The great lockdown liquor heist

Thieves tunnel their way into store to help themselves to whisky, brandy, gin, vodka and beer worth R300 000

DETAILS of how one of Joburg’s greatest alcohol heists was pulled off have emerged as the desperation for liquor heightened close to the end of the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown that put a blanket ban on the sale of liquor.

Criminals dug a tunnel to carry out the daring break-in to steal R300 000 worth of alcohol from a Shoprite LiquorShop at Newtown Junction in Joburg.

Management and employees were shocked to discover the tunnel and hole in the centre of the store that the enterprising thieves used to help themselves to whisky, brandy, gin, ciders, vodka and beer valued at R300 000.

According to a statement from Shoprite Holdings, the store was robbed in a bizarre manner as the criminals tunnelled through a solid concrete floor to gain access to the store.

Yesterday, the store appeared to have mopped up in time for the level 3 opening despite the break-in and seemed to be functioning normally.

“The manager of the Shoprite LiquorShop in Newtown Junction discovered the theft and a large hole in the ground when she entered the store on Friday. She was returning to prepare for the store’s reopening under the easing level 3 lockdown conditions on June 1,” Shoprite said in a statement.

It was reported that the incident took place during the country’s nationwide level 4 and level 5 lockdown.

“With alcohol in high demand during the lockdown period, the store was secured from the outside throughout.

But the suspects avoided the mall’s main entrance and instead used electrical and stormwater tunnels beneath the shopping centre to gain access to an area beneath the store.”

Shoprite added that it was unclear how the thieves knew where to tunnel, or how long it took them to get through the thick concrete floor, but they returned a few times to steal a large amount of stock.

Shoprite Group loss control manager Oswald Meiring said the suspects were first recorded on CCTV cameras on May 21, just 10 days before liquor sales were allowed.

“Footage from inside the store shows three suspects, although more may have remained in the tunnel to help move the large quantity of liquor stolen.”

A R50 000 reward, subject to terms and conditions, has since been offered for information that might lead to successful arrests.

Police spokesperson Kay Makhubela confirmed the break-in and that a manhunt for business burglary suspects has been launched. “We are working with the store to get to the bottom of this. No arrests have been made at this stage. We would like to appeal to anyone with information to reach out to us,” he said.

Newtown Junction operations manager Michael Wrede said he was aware of the incident and that investigations were ongoing. However, Wrede refused to provide clarity on the length of the underground tunnel and security levels over the phone and instead committed to sending a response by email.

No email was received from Wrede, while his phone rang unanswered.