Cape Town - It was a close call for staff at a cellphone network shop at a popular Cape Flats mall as armed men stormed the store and robbed them.
The MTN store in Vangate Mall, Athlone, was hit by four men on Tuesday evening, shortly before closing time at 7pm.
Police say the gunmen entered the store and held two employees and three customers captive before ransacking the shop.
The gang got away with a number of cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash.
They got away in a car and fled in the direction of Langa.
Captain FC van Wyk, has confirmed the incident and said a case of business robbery is being investigated.
“Four males entered the shop, two of them were armed, and forced two workers and three customers to the back of the shop,” he explains.
“They opened the safe and took (an unknown amount of) cellphones as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.
“They fled the scene and got into a vehicle and drove off in the direction of Langa, the registration number of the car is unknown.”
Fortunately no shots were fired and no injuries were reported, Van Wyk added.
The Daily Voice visited the MTN store on Wednesday, and although there were staff and managers in the store, it was closed for the day.
A sign was placed in their window, reading: “This store will not be trading today. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.”
No one at the store was willing to comment.
The Daily Voice also contacted Vangate Mall management who did not respond to queries.
Daily Voice