Five suspects arrested in connection with a robbery at Premji’s Jewellers at Umhlanga’s Gateway Theatre of Shopping yesterday afternoon are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.   

According to a report by Northglen News, police also recovered some of the stolen jewellery, estimated to be valued at R3m, as well as clothing, bank cards and mobile routers in uMlazi.  

Two armed response officers who were responding to the robbery were shot and injured in the brazen robbery, with its aftermath captured on video by several shoppers.  
 
Prem Balram, the spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa, said they were inundated with calls from frantic shoppers requesting assistance after reports of gunshots being fired. 

According to Balram, as the suspects attempted to flee, they opened fire with rifles on an armed response officer from a private security company who was entering the mall parking lot in his vehicle in response to the incident. 

“The officer was struck during the exchange. Several shoppers sought refuge inside nearby businesses as the incident unfolded,” he said. 
 
Balram did not have information about the shooting of the other officer. 

Provincial SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said the suspects are aged between 20 and 44.  

“While processing the scene at the mall, police received crucial information that the suspects in the robbery were seeking a buyer of the stolen items at uMlazi. Police officers from the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, as well as eThekwini District Task Team, made the arrest in the early hours of Monday morning (April 13),” he said.  

While investigations are ongoing, the suspects have been charged with business robbery and attempted murder.  

Gateway’s management said they were working closely with SAPS.  

“The safety and security of tenants, shoppers and staff remain Gateway Theatre of Shopping’s highest priority, and the centre will continue to work closely with law enforcement and private security partners to uphold proactive security measures,” they said in a statement.  

The video below captured the aftermath of the robbery as the suspects made their escape out of the mall.  

Watch video here: 

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