ARMED ROBBERS HIT CITY HOTEL
FOUR armed suspects were arrested in Cecil Sussman Street in the Kimberley CBD yesterday, shortly after they had allegedly robbed the Phoenix Hotel in Beaconsfield of a “substantial amount” of cash at around 10am.
This follows an attempted robbery in the same street, at the Sol Plaatje fresh produce market, earlier this month, when 10 men were arrested for a foiled cash-in-transit heist on February 6.
The manager of the Phoenix Hotel said that he was approached by three men and threatened at gunpoint after cashing up yesterday morning.
“They weren’t wearing masks and while I managed to push two of the men to the ground, the other suspect pointed a firearm at me and I decided to drop the cash as my life was worth more than the money. Luckily I was not injured in the process,” said the manager.
The suspects, who were travelling in a silver grey Toyota Yaris with a Northern Cape number plate, were later apprehended in Cecil Sussman Street, in possession of a backpack containing cash and firearms.
Police spokesperson Captain Sergio Kock said the suspects were from Soshanguve in Gauteng and Kuruman in the Northern Cape.
“Four male suspects were apprehended following the quick thinking and lightning-fast reaction of members from the Kimberley SAPS C Relief, Flying Squad and K9 unit. The police were alerted on Sunday (yesterday) that the suspects robbed a well-known hotel in Kimberley. It is alleged that the owner cashed up the takings and while busy leaving the premises he was approached by the suspects armed with firearms. The suspects grabbed a black tog bag from the owner and fled with a substantial amount of cash. Police chased after the vehicle and managed to stop and search it in Cecil Sussman Street in the Kimberley CBD,” said Kock.
He added that the police retrieved a “substantial amount” of money and also confiscated two firearms and the silver grey Toyota Yaris.
“The police are looking at possibly linking the suspects with three other armed robberies in the Northern Cape. The suspects should be appearing in court soon. The investigation continues.”
Kock said that anyone with information regarding the incident is requested to call Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe of the SAPS Trio Crimes unit.
In an unrelated case, three suspects were arrested on charges of malicious damage to property after the Northern Cape Agricultural Union offices in Bean Street were broken into on the weekend.
Kock said that one adult was arrested “on the spot” while two minors were released into the care of their supervisors following the incident on Saturday.
He stated that a glass window was broken to gain entry to the building, although nothing was stolen from the offices.