Shop owner clings to bonnet of getaway car

Cape Town 03-03-11 . Voortrekker Road Parrow Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Luvuyo

Cape Town 03-03-11 . Voortrekker Road Parrow Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Luvuyo

Published Sep 11, 2012

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Cape Town - A group of city traffic officers were on routine patrol along busy Voortrekker Road when they spotted a man desperately clinging to the bonnet of a moving car.

What seemed like a scene from an action movie was in fact a getaway following an alleged robbery.

It is alleged three women had marched into a Five Rand Store and stole R12 500, and shop owner, who is from China, was desperately clinging to the car to stop them getting away.

Merle Lourens, spokeswoman for city traffic services, said the officers were checking vehicles along Colin and Voortrekker roads in Maitland when they saw the man on the bonnet.

As the car drove past the officers, the shop owner jumped off and ran for help.

When the officers forced the driver to stop further down the road and approached the car, three women jumped out and ran down a side street.

The officers collared the women after a brief chase.

They found a handbag containing R12 500 in the back of the car.

The three women and the driver were arrested and charged with theft at the Maitland police station.

Lourens said the officers were commended for their quick thinking.

“Here is case of officers going beyond the call of duty and not just focusing on traffic offences,” she said.

“Serious injury, on the part of the shop owner, was avoided. And the stolen goods were recovered,” she added.

Cape Argus

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