Robbers hit mall jewellery store
HEMINGWAYS became the scene of yet another robbery at the weekend when four men walked into a jewellery store and made off with thousands of rands worth of precious stones.
The incident took place on Saturday morning in front of the store’s horrified staff.
Mall general manager Reinette van Tonder said the men, armed with a hammer, entered the store at 9.35am, smashed a glass display cabinet, removed its contents and fled with them.
The Dispatch has seen CCTV footage showing the moments before and after the brazen robbery.
In the clip, two men pretending to be interested in purchasing baby shoes enter Edgars Active clothing store. A man seems to be looking at the shoes while his eyes remain fixed on the jewellery store opposite.
Moments later, the two exit the mall. Ten minutes later, they return with two other men. This time they go straight to the jewellery store and seconds later chaos erupts.
Scores of terrified customers are seen screaming and sprinting across the mall passage. A few seconds later the four men emerge from the store fleeing with bags.
When the Dispatch arrived on Saturday, the NJW shop was closed with staff members inside the store still in shock. Broken glass was scattered on the floor and the shop was engulfed in thick smoke, which is released when the security panic button is activated.
Van Tonder said no guns had been used and no one had been harmed in the incident. However police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said two customers had small cuts from the broken glass. The mall’s security team gave chase but failed to catch anyone.
Mbi said that police were seeking four suspects who fled with a large quantity of jewellery whose value was yet to be determined.
Van Tonder said: “The mall is working with police. No arrests have yet been made.
“As this incident is being investigated by the police, we are unable to provide further details. Hemingways Mall would like to reiterate that the safety and well-being of our tenants and shoppers is our top priority and to this end we have a very close working relationship with the SAPS.”
Anyone with information which may assist in arresting any suspects is requested to contact the police on 08600 10111 or Cambridge detectives on 043-709-7500. —