Kimberley - A group of between five and eight men, armed with assault rifles, attacked two G4S security guards on Monday morning making off with a deposit from Game Stores involving an undisclosed amount of money.
This was the second armed robbery incident in the Northern Cape on Monday.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana confirmed two incidents, stating that the first happened around 2am at a diamond mine situated between Hopetown and Douglas.
“The armed men stormed into the premises of the diamond mine and tied up the security guards at gunpoint. They fled with some office items,” Tawana said.
He did not give the name of the mine.
The second incident, which happened at the North Cape Mall, saw the police launch a massive manhunt for the perpetrators.
No one was injured in the incident, which happened around 10.45am.
It is believed that the G4S Security armoured vehicle in Kimberley was parked just outside the basement loading bay at Game Stores, while the two security officers went to fetch the deposit.
As they returned and the loading bay opened, they were accosted by a group of between five and eight men, all believed to have been armed with assault rifles.
The two officers were forced to hand over the cash box and the men fled in a waiting car.
A massive police search, involving the police air wing unit, ensued as the men made off in a Red Nissan Sentra, with black rims and tinted windows.
According to social media networks, the men fled in the direction of the N12.
It is believed that there are no security cameras in the basement loading area.
Rumours were rife on Monday that the deposit box contained an estimated R400 000.
Game Stores, however, declined to comment.
Tinabo Majaye-Khupe, Public Relations and Communications Practitioner, said: “Unfortunately we are not in a position to comment on this incident until such a time as details surrounding this incident have been ascertained.”
According to Tawana, the suspects are still at large.
The police have appealed to members of the public, who have information regarding either of the two incidents, to contact them.
In the first incident, members of the public can contact Detective Constable Ambros Struis at the Hopetown police station on 053 203 7200 or 082 547 3329.
Regarding the incident at the North Cape Mall, Detective Warrant Officer Dibebe can be contacted at the Kimberley police station on 053 838 4332 or 082 302 0407.
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