‘I am not okay, I do not feel safe’

STAFF at the Pavilion Shopping Centre are concerned about their safety following a robbery at GK Pather Jewellers on Sunday evening.

It is alleged about 10 suspects stormed into the store and ordered staff and customers into the kitchen, showing them a gun. The suspects then smashed the glass to gain access to the jewellery.

On Monday, POST did a walkabout at the mall and it was business as usual, with a number of shoppers present.

The jewellery store remained closed. There was a strong security presence around the mall. Staff and business owners at the mall, who did not want to be named, said they did not feel safe.

One witness said: “I was in my store when I heard glass breaking and I saw shoppers dispersing. It was scary. I ran to the entrance of the store and saw other people closing up their shops. I also saw two men with guns. I realised the jewellery store was being robbed so I closed my store and hid inside. I continued to hear the robbers breaking the glass and people screaming.

“The ordeal lasted a few minutes but felt like a lifetime. I was praying that no one would get hurt. When the robbers fled, I opened my store. The staff from the jewellery store were traumatised and so was I. I am completely shaken.”

She said tenants were hoping the mall’s management implements stricter security measures. “Although I am at work today I am not okay and I do not feel safe.”

Another shop owner said: “It was chaotic. People running past my store told me the jewellery store was being robbed. They were clearly afraid. I remained in my shop.

“I realised that the robbers only wanted jewellery because incidents like this have happened at other malls. It was peak shopping time. The mall was busy. I just prayed that no one would get hurt.

Another employee said this was not the first time a jewellery store had been robbed at the mall. “There have been incidents in the past. It is shocking that the suspects are so brazen.”

A shopper, who also declined to be named, said: “I was with my husband. We were getting ready to leave the mall. Suddenly we heard people screaming. They were running in different directions.

“The staff from the stores were taking money out of their cash registers and putting it away while others closed the doors. We then realised it was a robbery and decided to go to our car.

“From where we were parked we could see the robbers get into their vehicle and speed off. They fired several shots into the air before leaving. I was petrified. The security guards were not armed and they also hid for cover. It was like nothing could be done to stop the robbers.”

She said the mall needed to employ armed guards. “The safety of shoppers and staff must be the mall’s priority. I am so scared of going back to the mall. If I do go back I think I would be on edge.”

The owner of GK Pather Jewellers declined to comment.

Vicky Deppe, the general manager at the centre, said: “The centre management confirms that an armed robbery took place at the centre. The Centre’s security responded immediately to the scene and notified the police. We can confirm no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The Centre has been secured and the incident is now the subject of a police investigation.”

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a police spokesperson, said: “It is alleged that at least 10 suspects stormed into a store and ordered the staff to the kitchen after showing them a gun. The suspects allegedly smashed the glass counter and shelves to gain access to the jewellery. A case of business robbery is being investigated.”