PE businesses hit by gunmen

No link found yet in spate of robberies that leaves one employee shot, another beaten

AWOMAN was shot and another beaten in three separate business robberies in Port Elizabeth this week. In all three attacks, gunmen posed as potential customers to gain entry to the premises.

During one of the robberies, a woman was shot in the leg and in another a woman was assaulted after she refused to hand over her cellphone.

The series of incidents has prompted police to warn businesses to be vigilant.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said in the latest incident, a woman, 41, who works for Metalman in Burman Road, Deal Party, was admitted to hospital after she was shot in the leg yesterday.

“A VW Polo arrived at the centre shortly after 9am. The three occupants claimed to be customers.

“They remained in their car in the car park near one of the onsite buildings. Two of the men then confronted a woman transporting money from the office to an office with a drop safe situated across the car park.

“One of the men grabbed the money bag she was carrying while the woman continued to clutch it,” she said.

“In the standoff, one of the suspects shot the woman in the leg. After grabbing the money both jumped back into the getaway car which then sped off.”

Janse van Rensburg said the woman was taken to Greenacres Hospital by ambulance for treatment. The bag contained R55 000. Police on the scene confirmed that the VW Polo was fitted with false licence plates, and by yesterday afternoon had not yet been found.

Metalman employees and management declined to comment, while operations and business continued as usual.

The Metalman robbery comes after Mayibuye Fishing in Berg St, Korsten, was robbed at about 4.30pm on Monday.

“Four men entered the shop posing as customers wanting to buy fish . . . One [then] pulled out a firearm,” Janse van Rensburg said.

“The manager and three employees were held at gunpoint and forced to give over their cellphones and money from the cash drawer.The suspects then fled.”

Two hours earlier on Monday, the Sweet Palace in Newton Street, Newton Park, was robbed.

“Two men walked into the shop posing as customers. One pulled out a firearm and demanded money. Two employees and one of their friends were talking inside the shop at the time.

“One of the suspects demanded money and items such as cigarettes while the other confronted the employees inside the shop,” Janse van Rensburg said.

“One woman declined to hand over her cellphone and threw it, which is when the suspect assaulted her. The men fled the store a short while later.”

Janse van Rensburg said the robberies were not believed to be linked.

The incidence of robbers posing as customers is on the increase, prompting police to caution businesses to alter their routines, particularly banking or cash-up, and to be vigilant.

“Realistically, businesses cannot screen all their customers. However, we encourage measures to identify suspicious characters before they strike.

“This could be someone scouting the premises or a car parked nearby watching movement of employees,” she warned.