Police and security officials believe the three incidents are linked.
It seems the same vehicle was used in all three crimes and the perpetrators followed the same modus operandi.
Ms Melinda Neto was held at gunpoint outside the complex in Marula Street, West Acres while on her way to the hairdresser last Thursday.
Ms Aleida van Wyk, her hairdresser, came across the incident.
According to Neto, two armed men approached her as she was about to enter the gate. They hit her in her face and grabbed her jewellery.
“I heard Melinda screaming, so I went to the gate. The one man pointed a firearm at me,” said Van Wyk, who ran and hid behind a wall.
More neighbours were alerted by the noise.
The men, whom Neto described as “wearing dark clothes”, drove off in a metallic-blue BMW towards Koraalboom Street.
Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit’s operation manager, Mr Callum MacPherson, said Mr Albert Gryvenstein from Bossies Community Justice alerted him of the incident.
Hi-Tech responded to the call and its medical services treated Neto at the scene. She was transported to hospital for lacerations on her lip and shock.
Also read: Armed robbers fail to steal hearse
According to MacPherson, a young man reported that he had seen the suspect’s vehicle’s registration number and had written it down.
“I immediately relayed it to the Polsec telegram group and distributed it to all Hi-Tech branches in the Lowveld,” said MacPherson.
The first armed robbery occurred in Liberty Street, Steiltes on Monday at 18:40. A family was attacked in their home by armed robbers wearing dust masks.
Ms Lara Kruger was speaking to her friend in the driveway, her friend’s handicapped daughter was also present. Her husband explained that six armed robbers descended on them and forced them into the house through the garage door.
The suspects were wearing dust masks, gloves and dark-blue overalls. They escaped in a blue BMW.
The second incident occurred in West Acres on Tuesday at 21:30.
Mr Koos Schoonraad and Ms Elmarie van Deventer said the armed robbers attacked Schoonraad when he went to park his vehicle in the yard.
He also reported two men with weapons wearing dark clothes.
The men assaulted Schoonraad and held Van Deventer in their home. The noise alerted their neighbours, who came out of their houses shouting.
The men drove off in a dark-blue vehicle. They did not get a good look at the car or the attackers, but said the firearms looked like nine-millimetre pistols.
Also read: Couple burnt with iron in three-hour robbery ordeal
According to police spokesman, Capt Dawie Pretorius, the police believed the cases could be related.
He said they were investigating three cases of armed robbery.
