Heavily armed gang raids jewellery shop

More stores hit at Gauteng malls

Gauteng police have confirmed an armed robbery at a jewellery store at Lakeside Mall in Benoni on the East Rand at around noon yesterday.

According to police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele, three men entered the store armed with rifles.

“We understand the men made off with jewellery of which the value is unknown at this stage. They fled in a white VW Polo and a white Mercedes Benz‚” Makhubele said.

No shots were fired. This is the second jewellery store robbery in Benoni recently.

On March 28 JJ Jewellers in Northmead Square was hit at around 11.40am by four men‚ who were also armed.

A jewellery store at Rosebank Mall was also broken into last week‚ however it is unclear if anything was taken. Makhubele said police could not confirm at this stage if the incidents were linked.

“We don’t know if these incidents [involve] the same people. But as part of our strategy‚ police will be more visible in and around malls especially over the Easter weekend‚” he said.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old woman managed to escape while being held hostage during an armed robbery at a clothing store in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, yesterday paramedics said.

ER24 spokeswoman Annine Dormehl said according to witnesses‚ four armed men entered the store after 1pm and held the woman‚ who is believed to be an employee of the store‚ hostage.

“The woman was lucky to escape without any injuries and was taken to an ER24 branch in the area by a member of the public.

“She was later transported to Mediclinic Emfuleni in Vanderbijlpark to be treated for shock‚” Dormehl said.

“It is not clear if the men managed to steal anything and police are still looking for the four men.”