The MTN shop located in the Monument Centre in Standerton was robbed at around 14:05 today (September 13).

According to Captain Braam Robberts, communications officer for the Standerton SAPS, a suspect first entered the shop at 11:00, enquiring about a cellphone contract.

The suspect returned hours later with two other men.

The only people in the shop at this time were the clerk and shop manager.

According to Robberts, the clerk was tending the counter when the suspects entered and the manager was having lunch in the back office.

“The suspect approached the clerk and showed her a gun in a black moonbag,” explained Robberts.

The clerk let out a scream, but was quickly silenced and taken to the back office where she was instructed to kneel down and keep her face down.

The suspects asked about panic buttons and cameras in the shop, at this time the cameras were not functioning as the shop had only relocated to this address a week ago.

Robberts said the suspects instructed the manager to open the safe, which had a delay and would only open 30 minutes after the code had been punched in.

The manager informed the suspects that there was nothing of value in the safe.

Robberts stated that the suspects took the personal phones of the clerk and manager, as well as the work phone, which was valued at R20 000.

The trio fled in a grey Hyundai i10.

Security footage in the shop is not clear enough to identify the suspects.