Yesterday’s robbery at Waterstone Village Centre brought the tally of heists at malls to 15 in the Western Cape since the beginning of the year.
Somerset West police spokeswoman Mary-Ann Williams says the solitary guard was carrying two cases of money after collecting the previous day’s cash takings from the Pick n Pay store about 8.50am.
“He was approached by two (men), dressed as women and wearing wigs,” said Williams. “One of the perpetrators grabbed at one case and when the guard refused to let go he was shot in the face.
“The (robbers) ran off with the money and security guards gave chase. The guard died at the scene.”
Waterstone Village Centre security guard Albert Pitoyi said a shot was fired at him when he attempted to confront one of the robbers.
“I saw them running towards the parking lot and tackled one of them. I could tell it was a guy although they were dressed as women. While we were struggling he fired a shot at me. Luckily the bullet missed me,” said Pitoyi. “I saw them get into a car. There was a driver waiting for them.”
Police have confirmed the robbers fled in a silver Toyota Corolla with false number plates.
Somerset West resident Tristan Tiltman, 37, was in Pick n Pay during the shooting.
“I was buying doughnuts when I heard what I initially thought was a loud firecracker. Then I heard the people screaming and a security guard told us to get down. I hid myself behind what looked like a cupboard of some sort,” he said.
“When the noise subsided I walked out and people had gathered around the guard’s body. He was just lying there in a pool of blood. I was quite shaken. Nothing like this ever happens around here.”
4S Cash Solutions declined to comment.
Jephta said police could not rule out the possibility that a crime syndicate was behind the robberies.
Shopping centres targeted included Canal Walk, Tyger Valley, Somerset Mall, Blue Route Mall, Bayside and Zevenwacht shopping malls. Apart from the 15 robberies in the Western Cape, there have been 14 in Gauteng, two in the Free State and two in the Eastern Cape this year.
A syndicate has been identified in Gauteng. Jeptha said police were investigating “all possibilities” in the Western Cape.
The Cape Times reported today that Pick n Pay declined to comment on the robbery at the Waterstone Village Centre in Somerset West on Sunday, in which a G4S security guard was shot dead. Pick n Pay had in fact made the following comment on Sunday after the robbery: "Our hearts go out to the security guard’s family and friends at this tragic time. Pick n Pay are co-operating fully with the SAPS including providing CCTV footage of the incident."