Police stumble upon robbery
Police unknowingly walked into an armed robbery in an Onderstepoort café.
Eight heavily-armed men disarmed police and a community policing forum (CPF) member during a robbery in Onderstepoort on Wednesday afternoon.
Cobie van Rensburg, a member of the Pretoria North community policing Sector 3, said one of their CPF members entered a café as the robbery was in progress. “He was forced to the back as police arrived on the scene, also unknowingly.”
The eight men took the firearms of the police and also forced them to the back of the shop.
The men ransacked the shop and made off with alcohol and cash in a silver NP200 bakkie.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Rebecca Phatlane confirmed the crime, saying police were in pursuit of the robbers.
No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
This was the second robbery in as many weeks at the cafe.
In the previous one, three men entered the store just before 08:00 on Saturday, 7 February. They bought beer and cigarettes before leaving.
“A few minutes later, they returned, ordered the store employee at gunpoint to the back and plundered the shop,” Phatlane said.
The men fled with R20 000 in cash and a laptop. They are still being sought.
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