Durban - Durban’s northern suburbs have experienced Wild West-like battles between police and fleeing robbers that have become the norm recently.
In the latest shoot-out, police arrested four suspects after they responded to a cash-in-transit heist at a Caltex fuel station in Chris Hani (North Coast) Road on Monday.
The gun battle came hot on the heels of two incidents in the past three weeks. Police spokesman Jay Naicker said guards from G4S Security were collecting cash at the service station when they were accosted by the four armed men.
An employee at the garage, who asked not to be identified, said: “As soon as they (guards) opened the doors for the money, three guys held them up and took the cash.”
The robbers fired at the guards and customers as they fled the scene.
“They ran away because the driver of the getaway car sped off upon hearing the gunshots… No one was injured,” said the employee. He said the three robbers fled into the nearby Mathambo informal settlement, near Avoca Hills.
Naicker said: “Police from the Greenwood Park police station responded immediately. There was a shoot-out between the police and the suspects. Three ran away while one drove off in the getaway vehicle. Police chased the three on foot and arrested them with the cash box and a firearm. The fourth suspect was cornered in the getaway car (in Chris Hani Road) by police.”
A witness who was close to where the car stopped said the driver got out and fled. He was caught by a policeman.
Naicker said the red VW Golf had been stolen in the Pinetown area. Umgeni Park neighbourhood watch chairman Brian Daish said the spike in robberies showed that gangs were “absolutely fearless”.
“We’ve had burglaries in Umgeni Park where a guy is standing outside the house with an AK-47 or an R5 keeping guard while his accomplices ransack the house,” he said.
The Greenwood Park community police forum chairman, Robin Candy, said the community was “getting used” to the shootings. He commended police for their quick response.
The Mercury