POLOKWANE – Thornhill Village urged residents earlier today to be vigilant when entering the premises and to not carry cash, following an armed robbery at the entrance to the village this morning (November 22).

“We had an incident today in which a visitor to the estate had been followed from the bank, and was then robbed at gunpoint outside the security gates. The police are busy with their investigation,” a security notice to residents reads.

Video footage supplied to Polokwane Observer shows a motorist stopping at the entrance to the estate at 11:21 when he is approached by two armed suspects.

One suspect points a firearm at the guard stationed at the gate before approaching the driver. The other suspect opens the door and rummages through the vehicle.

The two men then walk away to a getaway vehicle.

Kevin Smit, Urban Africa Security Services’ area manager confirmed to Review-Observer that a large sum of cash was taken from the vehicle and that the suspects may be linked to other armed robberies in the Bendor area, including the Woodlands Estate robbery in August.

Read more: EXCLUSIVE: Robbery stuns resident at Woodlands Estate

Smit said guards from Urban Africa gave chase and the suspects were cornered along Chroom Street.

“A shootout ensued and the suspects fled on foot. A cellphone was left behind in the vehicle, so it’s only a matter of time before they’re caught,” he said.

Efforts to get official comment from Tysocon Properties yielded no official response.

Police spokesperson Lt Col Ledwaba could not provide comment by the time of publishing.

For more breaking news follow us on Facebook Twitter Instagram or join our WhatsApp group