Their modus operandi was exactly the same as almost all the robberies lately, where four suspects usually enter the business and two wait outside.

The group entered a business (that wishes to remain anonymous) over the weekend and initially posed as customers. One first pretended to buy a soft drink, as with the robbery where Sam Nyambo was shot dead at the Toscana Centre.

He then pulled out a weapon and pointed it at the staff.

Customers who were paying for items immediately walked aside.

He then forced staff to take money out of the tills while his accomplice, a man with a neat beard and cap, pushed his weapon through the security windows and detained everyone.

An unarmed man with a goatee and khaki shirt then joined them and showed some of the customers where to stand.

While the robbery was in progress, a man came in wearing a dark blue tracksuit jacket, but his face never shows on the video footage.
The entire robbery was over in a matter of nearly three minutes.

• During past robberies, the CCTV cameras and technical material were taken, but during this robbery, the robbers were not interested in the cameras.

• If anyone recognises the robbers or has information that can help the police in their investigations of various robberies around town, call 013 249 1601 or 08600 1011.

The My SAPS App can also be downloaded, and information can be sent on the app.

Information will be treated confidentially. Remember to pass on information to the police correctly and say when and where the robbery took place and then clearly say Middelburg, Mpumalanga (since there is also a town called Middelburg in the Cape Province).

• If your business has been robbed in the last month and has not yet been reported, or you have photos or video footage of the robbers, call Daleen Naudé on 013 243 1434 or send an email to daleen@mobserver.co.za.