Suspect killed as getaway car rolls following foiled east jewellery heist
A shootout ensued after the armed robbery as police chased one of the cars involved in the store hold-up.
A suspect was killed during a high-speed car chase by police following an armed robbery at a jewellery shop in the east of Pretoria on Sunday afternoon.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Isaac Mculu said one suspect was declared dead on the scene and another arrested after the car they were travelling in rolled over on the R25 towards Tembisa during a high-speed chase by police.
Mculu said around 13:30 on Sunday, the police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Woodlands Boulevard shopping complex.
“Two men went inside the Déonne le Roux jewellery shop. One had a firearm and they held the people inside the shop hostage and demanded the jewellery. From there, they took one female who was holding the jewellery bag towards the parking where their car was situated,” he said.
“When they got to the parking lot the security guards saw them and a shoot-out ensued and they fled in two cars, a (VW) Polo GTi and a silver (Ford) Escort.”
Mculu said two suspects got into the GTi and four were in the Escort which was later found abandoned on Madiba Street towards Tembisa as the occupants fled on foot.
Also read: Two nabbed as east electronics store hit by robbers
“The police chased the GTi and on the R25 going towards Tembisa, the suspects started shooting at the police and they fired back but no one was injured.”
Mculu said the chase came to a halt when the car rolled over, killing the driver.
“The other suspect remains under police guard.”
He said the police would continue to search for the other four suspects linked to the armed robbery.
Witness Jamie Korf, who works at a store opposite the jewellery outlet, said he was busy with stock-taking when the incident took place.
“I heard commotion going on. I then heard people shouting and I went and looked on the side of the jewellery shop.”
Korf said he saw two men coming out with a female “hostage” with a gun pointed to her head.
“At that time, two security guards shouted at me to leave as it was dangerous and I ran to a safe place.”
In a statement, Lionel van Lis of Woodlands centre management confirmed that an armed robbery took place around 13:20.
Van Lis said jewellery items dropped by the robbers as they fled was recovered in the parking lot.
“Two armed suspects entered the mall and targeted the Déonne le Roux jewellery store.
The suspects made off with some jewellery.
Fidelity armed response and other private security companies reacted.” Fidelity, Bull Security and other private security companies responded to the robbery.
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