Greenfields robbery terrifies staff, customers

FOUR ATM cassettes loaded with thousands of rands were robbed from Spar Greenfields manager and the store’s supervisor in front of terrified customers in East London on Friday night.

Three armed thugs stormed into the store, pounced on unsuspecting employees, pointed firearms at them, demanded the cash-dispensing cassettes and fled with the plastic containers, said East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala.

She said the police had opened an armed robbery case.

Mqala said the two employees had just removed the cassettes from two mini ATMs in the store.

Local journalist Yola Kekezwa, who had just landed in East London from a trip, was inside the store with her sister when the drama unfolded.

She wrote on her Facebook page on Friday night: “First day back in East London and I witnessed a robbery at Greenfields Spar. Little sis had to hide behind the fridge.”

The suspects are still at large with the money, said Mqala.

The store’s owner Victor Delport said CCTV footage showed the robbery was carried out by eight men driving a Renault and a VW Polo.

Delport said two spotters stood outside the cars which had drivers. “We can actually see that they had a plan. This thing was over in just 10 seconds.

“One robber tackled the supervisor and took the cassettes and the other one turned our manager around, pointed firearm at his face, twisted his arm and shoved him to the ground and he fell on his back.”

Delport said the suspects then drove to Settler’s Highway and proceeded to town.

“When the manager tried to get up, one of the suspects rushed to him and stomped on him with his feet.

Delport said the supervisor and the manager were taken to St Dominics where they were treated for shock. —