Staff held at gunpoint in R1m Pretoria jewellery store heist

Silverton police spokesperson Warrant Officer Isaac Mculu said the police were investigating a case of armed business involving seven suspects.

The robbery took place around 11:20 on Sunday (October 3) at the Francois Jewellers store in the Grove Mall.

“A case of armed robbery was opened. It is reported that five suspects all armed with pistols wearing balaclavas got into the store, held the staff at gunpoint and took all kinds of jewellery such as diamonds, rings, watches and necklaces at the local shop,” Mculu said.

He said the value of the jewels taken was estimated to be up to R1-million.

“The police responded swiftly to the incident, however, there have not been any arrests just yet, but the police are working hard and investigating this case to try and find every possible lead that can result in the arrest of the seven suspects linked to this crime.”

Mculu said there were no injuries or fatalities from the incident.

The Grove mall spokesperson Christopher Hutchings confirmed the incident, saying although the suspects were armed, no shots were fired.

“We would like to thank the Tshwane metro police department, SAPS and all security companies for their prompt response.

“The [mall] management attends to all and any incident with utmost priority as the safety and security of our shoppers and tenants is of paramount importance to us.”

This was not the first incident of a jewellery shop robbery in the east of Pretoria.

Last month, staff at Déonne le Roux jewellery were held hostage during an attempted armed robbery at the Woodlands Boulevard shopping complex.

In that incident a suspect was killed and another arrested during a high-speed car chase by police.

The jewellery that was stolen from the store was recovered in the complex’s parking lot.