Chaos reigned at Flora Shopping Centre when a brazen gang robbed the Pick n Pay on Thursday evening, May 2.
News of the robbery spread through community WhatsApp groups like wildfire as residents warned each other to avoid the centre.
According to senior personnel officer for the Johannesburg Flying Squad, Raymond Sambo, flying squad officers were conducting crime prevention operations when a call came in over the police radio of a robbery in progress at the centre.
Bystanders at the scene say the gang consisted of seven robbers.
Officers immediately rushed to the scene. Upon their arrival at the centre, they encountered several suspects fleeing and gave chase.
“Police officers managed to apprehend one suspect, who was found to be in possession of a 9mm Norinco firearm,” Sambo said.
The Roodepoort Record spoke to Beagle Watch’s crime specialist Leon van Zyl, who was also at the scene.
According to Van Zyl, the suspect, while fleeing from Flying Squad officers, tried, unsuccessfully, to hijack a car at the filling station across the road from Flora Centre.
“The suspect then attempted to run back across Ontdekkers Road, right in front of a security vehicle. Luckily the suspect did not sustain any serious injuries.”
Police officers continued their search for the rest of the suspects and managed to recover two other firearms, a pistol and a revolver, allegedly abandoned by the robbers as they fled.
“Further investigation at the scene led us to the discovery of a silver Toyota Hilux that was used as a getaway vehicle,” Sambo continued.
“Officers searched the vehicle and found a substantial amount of money. The suspect was transported to the Florida station where they were charged with the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and business robbery.”
Sambo said that investigations into this matter are ongoing.
