Leriba hotel owner, 2 others assaulted as robbers make off with guns, cash
"The hotel's chef was then assaulted repeatedly and at one point, he pretended to be dead."
Police have launched a manhunt following an armed robbery at the Leriba hotel in Centurion on Saturday evening.
Police spokesperson Constable Tumisang Moloto said six armed men broke into the hotel owner’s house, located on the hotel premises, and starting assaulting him and two others.
“The robbers ransacked the place before fleeing with three cellphones, two laptops and an undisclosed amount of money,” he said.
Moloto said a case of business robbery was opened at the Wierdabrug police station.
ALSO READ: Shots fired in botched Centurion robbery
Police could not confirm any further details, however, according to local ward councillor Ina Strydom, the robbery happened around 19:00.
“Owner Peet du Preez, his chef and a previous employee were in his house when the men broke in,” she said.
Strydom said the robbers found the chef, Robert, downstairs having dinner and ambushed him.
“They assaulted Robert and demanded he hand over the keys to the safe.” “He was then assaulted repeatedly and at one point he pretended to be dead,” she said.
“The robbers then dragged him upstairs to Peet, who was already asleep when the men broke in.”
Strydom said the robbers found the owner and tied him up together with Robert and a former employee who was also in the house.
“Peet was, however, heavily beaten up as he refused to give them the keys to the safe.
“Somehow the men managed to find the keys and stole firearms from the safe,” Strydom said.
She said those injured were treated on the scene for their injuries.
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: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
