The Benoni Police Station is investigating two armed business robberies that occurred yesterday.

Benoni City Times reports that the first incident took place at the Benoni Northerns Sports Club.

According to Benoni SAPS spokesperson Captain Nomsa Sekele, five employees reporting for duty noticed five men loitering outside the clubhouse.

“One employee approached the on-duty security guard, who said more men were sitting in two cars parked in the parking area,” she says.

“Taking note of the suspicious persons, the employee returned to his stocktaking duties inside the facility and, as a precaution, placed the remote panic button in his pocket.”

While completing their duties before opening, the criminals accosted the employees inside the bar area, tied their hands with cable ties and demanded cash.

“While being escorted to the onsite safe, the employee activated the panic button. When private security officers arrived, the criminals waiting in the cars told the officers that nothing seemed to be amiss,” adds Sekele.

“Suspecting the officers might return, the criminals fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money, leaving behind one assailant, who attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. A foreign national was arrested and faces charges of armed robbery.”

One of the vehicles used in the robbery was a blue Toyota Atios.

Pretoria Road robbery

At 19:40, two men driving a red VW Polo entered the Engen convenience store on Pretoria Road, pretending to make a purchase.

“It is alleged that one criminal approached the cashier while the other made his way behind the counter,” says Sekele.

“They held the cashier at gunpoint and took cigarettes, prepaid vouchers and cash before fleeing. No arrests have been made.”

Call for information

Sekele urges anyone with information about these crimes to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app. Tip-offs can be made anonymously.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.