17 held hostage, robbed at Pretoria medical centre
The suspects tied up all the victims and put tapes on their mouths before stealing their laptops, cellphones, cash, and bank cards and demanding Pins.
Four perpetrators held 17 victims hostage at gunpoint for over six hours, before robbing them of their belongings at a medical centre in Kirkney village on Monday, August 14.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, the complainant reported that she was working at the centre when an unknown man entered and asked to see the dentist.
“The man enquired about the cost and then left to get money from an ATM. A second unknown man entered and asked to see the doctor and paid the cost.”
Van Dyk said while the complainant was writing a receipt, the first man returned and asked to use the restroom.
“As the first man went to the bathroom, the second man who was waiting for a receipt pointed a gun at the complainant.”
Van Dyk said when the first man returned from the bathroom, he took over the holding of the complainant and her colleagues at gunpoint.
He said the other suspect then went to fetch the doctors and patients out of their consulting rooms and forced them into the waiting area.
Van Dyk said two more unknown men joined the party and tied up all the victims and taped their mouths.
The suspects collected the cellphones, wallets, cash, laptops and bank cards.
“The victims were then forced to disclose their PINs to the suspects, who phoned someone to go withdraw money from the accounts,” Van Dyk said.
The suspects fled the scene after stealing the belongings.
He said the complainant alleged that she will be able to identify the suspects if she sees them again.
The total value of all the stolen property is unknown at this stage.
“No shots were fired and no injuries were reported,” Van Dyk said.
He said the police are investigating a case of false imprisonment, armed robbery and business robbery.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Hercules police.
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