Business loses R2 300 during business robbery
The police returned fire but were not successful in stopping the suspects from getting away.
Police were caught in a shootout when they attempted to stop suspects from getting away after a business robbery on Ermelo Road last Thursday evening, says Springs Police spokesperson Capt Johannes Ramphora.
The shopkeeper and a friend were sleeping in the back of the store when they heard someone tampering with the outside door and phoned the owner of the store.
According to the shopkeeper, at the the next moment, two suspects opened a window and pointed a gun at them through the window, when the victims turned away from the gun, they saw another two suspects standing behind them.
Also see: Shop loses cigarettes worth R3 000 after business robbery
The suspects ordered the victims to go outside.
While that was happening, the owner of the shop called the sector vehicle as the two policemen had just been inside the store to place an advert.
When the police arrived on the scene, they saw one suspect coming out of the front door and when the second suspect saw the police, he started shooting at them while running towards the scrapyard.
The police returned fire, but were not successful in stopping the suspects from getting away.
Upon inspection of the shop, police discovered the cash register was open and R2 300 was missing as well as the cigarettes.
They also found two boxes filled with liqour that was abandoned by the suspects.
Police are investigating if the suspects had received help from someone in the shop as the front door was open but not damaged, and the padlock that was used to lock the door from the inside, was on the counter.
It is unknown how they gained entrance except if they did have help on the inside.
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