Durban - A stolen phone was still being tracked by its owner yesterday after the device was seized during an armed robbery at the 45th Engen Convenience Centre near 45th Cutting on the M13 in Sherwood, Durban.
And he’s hoping the “pinging” phone will lead the police to the suspects.
The drama unfolded on Thursday during the evening rush hour, when four young men stormed into the garage convenience shop.
The convenience shop owner Richard Critchlow described it as “a 60-second robbery”.
“The forecourt was full and there were about 15 customers in the shop when two young men came into the store, quickly followed by another two men, one of whom had a gun.
“The customers were told to lie on the floor. It was so quiet, some of the customers at the back didn’t realise it was happening,” said Critchlow.
The Independent on Saturday was permitted to view the CCTV footage of the incident.
One suspect stands over the security guard while the armed leader, dressed in a hoodie, searches terrified customers’ pockets for cellphones and wallets. The other two empty the tills and grab as many packets of cigarettes as possible, which are stuffed into bags before the four leave the shop.
As customers crouch for cover, there’s a small child standing in the shop who the robbers simply ignore.
“They walked out and there was a car waiting the other side of the freeway.
“One of the customers activated the tracking for his stolen phone and gave the police the location of the phone in Umlazi.
“I sent out the pictures to other businesses. With these guys on the prowl, at least it sends out an alert and other businesses are not just sitting in the dark,” said Critchlow
The businessman who activated his tracker did not want to be named, but confirmed he was still tracking his stolen phone on Friday.
“I stop in at the shop every day and at first didn’t notice them (the suspects). I was standing in line to pay at the till and they told me to get down on the floor, before taking my phone and wallet.
“My phone tracker is on and I told the police that guys in my office were tracking the suspects. We have handed the position of the phone to the police” he said.
On Friday night SAPS spokesperson Lt Colonel Shooz Magudulela confirmed a charges of business robbery had been laid at Sydenham police station, but did not comment on whether the police were following the signal of the stolen phone.
“At gunpoint the suspects instructed the cashier to open the tills and empty the cash registers. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene. No shots were fired and no injuries reported.
“A case of business robbery was opened at Sydenham police station for investigation and no arrests have been made,” said Magudulela.
Independent On Saturday