Police, guards wounded in a shoot-out
THREE police constables and a security guard were wounded in an hour-long shootout with robbers during a foiled robbery at a liquor store in Philippi yesterday.
The manager of the store who did not want his name published for fear of intimidation told the Cape Times that two of the three security guards survived unhurt after they were held hostage.
“Good news is that no life was lost and some of the suspects have been arrested. Police responded quickly and surrounded the premises to prevent the robbers from fleeing. It is unfortunate that four people are now in hospital as a result of what happened,” said the manager.
He said he has lost count of how many times the store has been robbed in recent years. The robbers arrived at the store after midnight and pointed firearms at the security guards demanding cash.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said a case of attempted murder and attempted robbery was registered. Four suspects have been arrested.
Traut said police members were quick to respond to the incident and on arrival they came under fire. He said the police’s Special Task Force were called to the scene to get the the armed robbers out of the store.
In a seperate incident in Khayelitsha, a 29-year-old man was arrested for attempted murder, possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of stolen property. Police say he and his accomplice were involved in a shoot-out with police in Harare in Khayelitsha on Sunday.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said police were on vehicle patrol when they heard gunshots in Enkanini informal settlement in Khayelitsha. When they approached the scene they come upon three unidentified man running with firearms in their possession.
The police chased them after they sped off in a vehicle.
He said the suspects shot at the police. The police returned fire and the suspects abandoned the vehicle, fleeing in different directions. No injuries were sustained during this shootout. One suspect was arrested.
It was found the vehicle had been used in a house robbery in Harare last month. A flat screen television and five cellphones were recovered.