Business robberies rife in Mossel Bay
Since the beginning of the year, Mossel Bay Advertiser has reported on 10 business robberies in the greater Mossel Bay area.
The two most recent incidents took place within days of each other, one resulting in the loss of a beloved community member.
The community of Extension 13 was still reeling from the death of Nazeem Petersen, following an armed robbery at the Corner Shop in Marlin Street on Thursday, 12 October, when the PEP store in Marsh Street was robbed on Monday, 16 October.
Prior to these two incidents, these robberies made headlines:
On 2 March, patrons and management of the Spur in Hartenbos were held at gunpoint and robbed by five suspects.
On 6 April two people were robbed at the Buff and Fellow Eco Game Farm, Great Brak, by five armed suspects.
On 8 April an employee and his girlfriend were robbed at Dunkes Organic Equestrian Estate, Great Brak, also by five armed suspects. On 12 April the security guard at the Great Brak Post Office was held at gunpoint by three suspects and forced to open the safe. On 17 June personnel at
Romey Liquor Store, Marsh Street in Mossel Bay, were threatened with a firearm by two suspects. They stole cash from the register. On 21 June two suspects threatened personnel at a clothing store near Mikeva Hyper, Mossel Bay. The suspects fled with an unknown amount of money.
On 15 August the owners of Love Supermarket in Bland Street, Mossel Bay, were assaulted and threatened by five suspects. They fled with cellphones and money. On 28 August a spaza shop in Wolwedans was robbed by four armed suspects. These business robberies are included in the police's category, robbery with aggravating circumstances.
According to the police's fourth quarter crime statistics for 2022/23 and first quarter statistics for 2023/24, the four police stations in the Mossel Bay area had a combined 100 cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances. This is for the period January to June this year. The second quarter statistics are not yet available.
Ten of these 100 cases fall under the Mossel Bay Police Station, 11 under Great Brak station, 34 under Da Gamaskop and 45 under KwaNonqaba.