Shot fired in failed robbery attempt
The victim was followed by two men into the Pep Home.
An attempted robbery at White River Square on Monday saw a single bullet being fired before the suspects fled without any of the cash they had been trying to grab from the victim.
The White River Square Centre security manager, Jan Swart, said there had been a slew of rumours following the incident and that the attempted robbery was over very quickly, with no injuries to any customers or employees at the stores in the centre.
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“A man had just drawn money from Nedbank. Four men had been watching him from a bakkie and as the man walked to Pep Home next door, two of the robbers followed him,” said Swart.
“The suspects were telling the man to give them the money, but he refused and held onto it as the robbers tried to grab it.”
Swart said in the midst of the scuffle, a single gunshot went off, hitting the roof just outside Pep Home, before ricocheting into the ground at the entrance to Pep.
Swart said there had been two police officers next door at Clicks who heard the shot and ran out.
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“When the suspects saw the police they ran off.”
The provincial police spokesperson, Col Richard Mdluli, said the man did not want to open a case and therefore the police are unable to comment.
A Pep Home employee, who was in the store when the struggle and shooting happened, said she saw the man carrying the cash dive into the store and a gunman standing at the entrance fire a shot into the roof just outside the shop.
“The employees just ducked and hid behind the till. The customers all ran toward the storeroom at the back.”
The employee said she was glad no one was harmed and that nothing was stolen.
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