Pick n Pay confirms two robbery incidents at shopping centre in Blue Hills
Midrand police spokesperson Thabiso Angelina Selowa-Kutu said one suspect was recognised as a perpetrator from the previous robbery.
Following two robbery incidents at a Pick n Pay store in a shopping centre in Blue Hills, the retailer has since confirmed the incidents.
The robberies occurred on November 30 and December 4—four days apart—sparking safety concerns for its customers and staff.
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Nuno Pires, head of security at Pick n Pay, said, “[We] can confirm that two robbery incidents occurred at our Blue Hills store on 30 November and 4 December. There have been no further incidents at this location. We are grateful that no staff members or customers were injured,” said Pires.
However, the retailer did not respond to some of the paper’s questions, including measures in place to beef up security at the store.
Asked how much was taken on both occasions, Pick n Pay said it does not comment on amounts stolen, as this could put its staff at risk.
Midrand police spokesperson Sergeant Thabiso Angelina Selowa-Kutu said the latest incident happened around 15:55, and they were investigating a case of business robbery.
Selowa-Kutu said three men entered the store.
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“They opened the cash office door and entered. They then took an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene. There were two men armed with handguns standing guard at the back entrance,” said Selowa-Kutu.
She said when they ran outside, two men got into a grey Toyota Etios, which had a driver, and they drove off.
“They picked up a fourth suspect who was guarding the main entrance gate. The other suspect went to a silver VW Polo with no plates, driven by a female, and they also drove off. The two males who guarded the back entrance also fled, possibly in a maroon City Golf,” added Selowa-Kutu.
She said no shots were fired, and no injuries were sustained.
Selowa-Kutu said the suspects are unknown, but one was recognised through CCTV footage from the previous robbery, where the same store was robbed by a group of eight men.
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