Cops hunt for restaurant robbers
After the robbers drove a hijacked vehicle into a ditch, they ran away.
Police were on Wednesday still searching for two men who robbed a restaurant at Kolonnade shopping centre earlier this week.
The pair fled from police in a hijacked vehicle after robbing a Panarottis restaurant.
“Two men walked into our outlet in the Kolonnade around 21:30 and pointed a gun at our staff,” said Panarottis CEO Pierre van Tonder.
“They forced open a safe and took about R6000.”
Sinoville police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said the men fled with their loot through the nearest exit and halted a passing vehicle.
“They hijacked a white Toyota bakkie outside the mall, in which they fled,” Van Dyk said.
Police chased after the suspects.
Residents took to social media after they heard shots in the area.
Some said about eight gunshots were fired in a shootout between police and robbers.
“The suspects eventually decided to abandon the vehicle and to flee on foot,” Van Dyk said.
The hijacked vehicle was recovered on the corner Enkeldoorn Avenue and Sefako Makgatho Drive, along with some of the cash stolen from Panarottis, but the robbers disappeared.
“We are currently following up on leads to track down and arrest the two suspects,” Van Dyk said.
This was the second time in less than a year that Panarottis in Kolonnade had been the target of criminals.
In September last year, co-owner Anita Cassell was murdered in her house in Wonderboom.
The murderer is believed to have broken into the family restaurant to steal an undisclosed amount of money.
After the recent robbery, Kolonnade centre management sent a statement to confirm that no one was harmed.
“No one was injured during the robbery and the police are continuing their investigation,” said marketing manager Ina Kotze.
Also read:
Police pounce on R1.5m copper thief
Police warning of crime at taverns
Hunt for cash-in-transit attackers
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083-625-4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
- We have exciting news! We’re offering a free alert to help you always be in the loop. Send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ to breakingnews@rekord.co.za to receive your free daily breaking news update.
