Casual ATM bombing in Helderkruin

Security staff say there was nothing they could do after three men managed to bomb an Absa ATM at Westway Shopping Centre in Helderkruin early Saturday morning 23 August.

Although Colonel Chris Wilken of the Roodepoort South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that there was an ATM bombing at the centre sometime during the morning, no arrests have been made. The amount of money the thieves escaped with also has not been confirmed.

Luckily no injuries were reported following the blast but the Record can confirm that one business had suffered damage and that the security guards were held at gunpoint.

Phillip Schoeman, owner of Big Al’s – the business was affected the most – said on Sunday, “I received a phone call from my employees at around 8am reporting large cracks in the premises’ walls. Areas affected the most seem to be the main entrance as well as the kitchen area. The blast left a large gap in the kitchen wall. My insurance will have to assess the damage first before I can estimate how much it will cost.

“I’m just grateful that no one got hurt or that these men attempted to bomb the ATM during business hours,” he added.

The Record then approached Lexus Security site supervisor Nelson Chauke, who said the two security guards on duty were unable to prevent the robbery as the men, believed to be armed, forced them into the bathroom and demanded keys to the passage gate.

“There are two guards on duty every night. We lock all gates as soon as Woolworths closes its doors. Because we do not carry weapons there was nothing that the guards on duty could do, especially with a firearms to their heads,” he said.

Chauke believed that the men gained access through the deliveries entrance. There, the premises is surrounded by barbed wire fencing and he showed the Record that one section of the fence was lifted.

Behind the fencing is open veld. There the Record spotted that one of the spikes of the palisade fencing was also missing.