ON Saturday, June 22, a robbery took place at Hennie and Lee van Brakel’s the Pool and Spa Experts shop on Orpen Road in Oakdene.
The shop closes at 1 pm on Saturdays. Hennie was still at the shop around 1.40pm when a red Golf GTI pulled into the back section of the customer parking lot, which is behind the shop and out of sight from the main road.
Hennie recognised the men, who had come into the shop earlier that day to enquire about the physiotherapist next door, which was closed on the Saturday.
He opened the security gate at the back of the shop to help them.
One of the men began pushing Hennie while trying to grab his Rolex off his wrist.
Hennie fought back but stopped when the second man got out of the car, brandishing a revolver that he aimed at Hennie.
Hennie surrendered, and the two men robbed him of his watch and wallet and then made off.
Hennie could not see the car’s licence plate; nonetheless, he opened a case at the police station the next day.
He described one of the men as having a limp.
Hennie and his wife, Lee, would like to make other business owners on Orpen Road aware of this incident since it seems businesses on this busy road have become targets for criminals.
People need to be aware that thieves often come in to suss out the business operations, feigning interest in the products while figuring out how many people are at the shop, what the closing times are and whether neighbouring businesses are open. Later, they return to commit the crime.
On another occasion at Pool and Spa Experts, a new cellphone was stolen from behind the counter. Three men came in, pretending to be interested in buying a Jacuzzi, and while the salesman was distracted by two of them, the third stole the cellphone.
Hennie and Lee are urging the community and fellow business owners to be vigilant, not to take any chances and to inform each other of any suspicious behaviour in the area.
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