By: Sello Theletsane
One person was killed, and another left injured following a robbery at a jewellery store at Centurion Mall on Monday.
At least five armed men stormed the jewellery store around 11am and accosted the workers.
Gauteng police have subsequently launched a search for the five men who robbed and shot dead the owner as they fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dikeledi Sello said someone from inside the shop shouted at the owner not to enter the shop.
“He turned back and fled. However, as he looked back, he saw the robbers exiting his store with a trolley filled with jewellery and went after them. The owner, who was unarmed, was shot twice in the upper body by the suspects before they fled the mall,” Sello said.
Netcare911’s Shawn Herbst said paramedics did all they could to save the owner, but he was declared dead at the scene.
“When medics arrived on the scene, they found the man unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his abdomen, despite the best efforts by all involved, the patient’s injuries were too severe, and he was declared dead on the scene.
Sello added that the suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of jewellery.
As the festive season nears, such robberies are expected to be on the increase. Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann said as the country approaches the busy retail festive season, the risk of mall robberies unfortunately increases. He said knowing what to do in the event of a mall robbery could save your life.
“The golden rule if you ever are caught in the middle of a heist is to stay calm,” he said.
Bartmann provides the following tips to keep safe during a robbery.
If you are in the store that is being robbed:
• Co-operate with robbers for your own safety. Listen to their instructions closely and follow their instructions
• Try and keep as calm as possible. Everyone reacts in a different way but try and breathe deeply until help arrives
• Do not use your cell phone whilst the robbery is in process, this could agitate the assailants
• Immediately try and find a sheltered spot and keep low on the ground
• Take note of the assailants to pass the information on to the authorities, i.e. what they were wearing, any distinctive clothes, markings, jewellery etc. Try and remember what they look like, i.e. height, weight, etc.
• Ensure your children are kept close to you at all times. Do not let children wander off while you are shopping
• Do not shop with large amounts of cash or valuables
