Cellular shop robbed for third time

STANDERTON – Armed robbers stormed a local cellular shop for the third time in three years and stole stock and personal belongings on Monday afternoon.

Employees of the outlet feel that some people make a decent and legal living by working for a salary, while others think they can take and leave a trail of trauma and sometimes injuries.

The area manager visited the shop on Monday afternoon with advertising material to display and give out to customers.

Minutes after her arrival, five unknown men entered the shop.

At first it was not suspicious, as many customers enter daily. One employee said she did not not even realise they were being robbed as she was on the phone activating a contract for a customer.

The one robber ordered her to put the phone down and astonished by his arrogance, she asked him why.

She realised something was wrong as all the other staff and customers were crammed into the back storeroom.

He ordered her also to the back of the shop, where about 10 people already were.

The criminals carried big bags where they have loaded all the goods in.

According to the car guard in front of the shop, he saw a green Isuzu double cab bakkie parked near the shop about 1pm.

He saw the men in the vehicle, but was not suspicious, since many people park and walk about in town to do their business.

According to him the next thing he witnessed was the thieves coming out of the shop with big red bags, stuffed with something in it.

He saw them loading it on the bakkie and speeding off. He went closer to see what was going on and saw the doors of the shop were open, but nobody was in the shop.

He immediately went for help.

With the help of the shopping centre’s security guards he went into the shop and rescued the people still crammed together in the small space.

“I felt so sorry for them, they were crying and I could not help them,” he said.

The criminals also took the area manager’s car keys, alarm and petrol card.

A good Samaritan, who had picked-up the keys, brought it to the Standerton Advertiser’s office the following day and it could be returned to the woman.

Personal belongings were also taken, with one of the staff members struggling to get a ring off her finger.

She told the thief that she can not get it off, and he replied that if she does not take it off, he will shoot her.

The staff was traumatised by the incident. According to Mr Jannie Kasselman, owner of Kasselman Security Services, business owners and shop managers must service their alarm systems.

It is crucial to make sure security is up to standard, especially this time of the year.

Anyone with information can contact the Standerton Police at 017 719 1250.