Robbers pose as health inspectors, cops to rob pension pay points
ROBBERS dressed in police uniforms and another group pretending to be Covid-19 health inspectors robbed two pension payout points in Kwazulu-natal yesterday.
At the Scottsville Mall in Pietermaritzburg, four men dressed in white lab overcoats entered Checkers through the main entrance at 8.15am. In addition to white overcoats, the robbers also wore masks, face shields and gloves.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said they went to the cash office and asked to speak to a manager.
“Two suspects entered the manager’s office together with an employee. The other two stood outside. At gunpoint, they forced both of them to lie on the floor. They removed all the cash from the safe. They all left the premises through the main entrance on Alan Paton Avenue. They fled in their getaway vehicle,” Gwala said.
The second incident happened in Botha’s Hill at 8.40am. Gwala said a group of armed suspects posed as police officers. Two of them allegedly wore police uniforms. She said they entered the business premises and held up the security guard.
“They assaulted him, pointed a firearm at him and also robbed him of his cellphone. They proceeded to where the money was kept. They held up the employees and demanded cash. The robbers took an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing in their getaway vehicle,” Gwala said.
The police said the robbers fled in a white Toyota Hilux bakkie that had false number plates.
Alexandra Road SAPS and Hillcrest SAPS have opened cases of business robbery.
South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) spokesperson Sandy Godlwana said the robbers who entered Checkers at Scottsville Mall had pretended to be
Covid-19 cleansing inspectors.
She said approximately R200 000 was stolen.
“Both incidents are under police investigation. We have ensured that our clients were not affected or missed a payout. Our officials re-routed those waiting to be paid to other pay points in the vicinity. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” Godlwana said.