DURBAN: Armed robbers targeted a jewellery store at Gateway Mall in uMhlanga on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement today, Gateway Mall confirmed that a robbery took place at the centre, at about 12.22pm.
“The tenants smoke cloak was immediately activated, forcing the suspects to leave the mall shortly after –with an undisclosed amount of merchandise,” read the statement.
The mall said no tenants or customers were harmed during the robbery.
The Centre’s security teams immediately responded to the scene, and the SAPS were notified and responded to the scene soon after.
“The safety and security of customers and tenants is of utmost importance, and we are working with the SAPS to assist with their investigation.
“The centre has been secured, and is operating and trading as normal, as per lockdown regulations.”
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said it was alleged that today, at about 12.40pm, a group of unknown suspects entered the jewellery store in uMhlanga and held up the employees and the security guard at gunpoint.
Gwala said the armed robbers took various items of jewellery and fled the scene in their getaway vehicle. She said no shots were fired and that the matter was still under investigation.
A case of business robbery has been opened for investigation by Durban North SAPS.
At the beginning of the year, a jewellery shop at Gateway Mall was targeted by a gang of men, who made off with valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rand, according to IOL.
At the end of April, it was also reported that a jewellery store, at a popular shopping mall in Westville, was robbed and a civilian was shot and injured in the crossfire. Another jewellery store was robbed in January, at Woodburn Square, in Pietermaritzburg.
THE MERCURY