Cape Town - The owners of a jewellery store say they are lucky to be alive after armed robbers rammed their bakkie into their shop window.
The brazen robbers left the bakkie behind in the Rylands store and fled with stolen jewellery in another car.
The four men reversed their silver Toyota Hilux, into the front window and broke the glass displays with hammers.
Jabbar Jabbar, 52, owner of Andaaz Jewellers, on the corners of Murton and Pine Road, said his partner and cousin Zahoor Khan, 48, was alone inside the shop just before noon.
“The bakkie came from Pine Road and the [getaway] car was in Murton Road,” said Jabbar.
“After they broke through the window, they took what they could and left.
“They left the hammers in the shop. It happened in minutes.
By late yesterday, they were still counting the cost of the jewellery that was stolen.
Jabbar said he was outside the shop when he heard gunshots.
“My cousin shot at them from inside and one of the suspects was injured,” he said.
“They drove off in a white [VW] Polo which police later found in College Road [Rylands].
“The jewellery hasn’t been found yet. We are normally very busy. It looks like they planned the hit because they came straight for the shop. My cousin is fine, his finger was cut by the glass but he very lucky to be fine,” said Jabbar.
When police arrived, the bakkie was still stuck in the window.
About five bullet holes could clearly be seen in another window.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said a case of business robbery is under investigation.
“At about 11am five unidentified suspects robbed a jewellery shop in Rylands.
“The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount jewellery.
“No one has been arrested at this stage. They are still at large,” Van Wyk added.
* Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Daily Voice