Cape Town - Three suspects who carried out a robbery at a post office in Eerste River, where three people including a police officer were wounded, have been caught red handed with the money.
Police have confirmed that two males, aged 21 have been arrested and will face charges of attempted murder, the attack on police and business robbery.
The drama unfolded just after 12.45pm yesterday when the suspects stormed inside the post office located at a shopping centre in Eerste River and demanded cash.
When police arrived at the scene, a shoot-out occurred and four people where left with gunshot wounds.
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said that the suspects were caught red-handed with the stolen money.
“Police members from Kleinvlei Crime Prevention Unit responded to a complaint of a business robbery in Strand Road, Eerste River.
“According to reports unknown males entered the post office, demanding cash.
“When the police officers arrived at the scene, a shoot-out between the suspects and the police followed.
“Two males, aged 76 and 40, and a female aged 61, sustained gunshot wounds.
“A 30-year-old police constable also sustained gunshot wounds.
“The four victims were all transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment,” Swartbooi said, adding that the suspects fled the scene.
“Kleinvlei police are investigating cases of attempted murder, attack on police, business robbery.”
“Two males, aged 21, has since been arrested and detained when found in possession of an undisclosed amount of money, moments after the business robbery in Eerste River earlier today.
“Once charged, the duo are expected to make a court appearance in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s court on the mentioned charges,” he said.
ER24 emergency services spokesperson Russel Meiring said one of the wounded persons was a security guard who had injuries to his thigh, while a woman and man had wounds to their feet.
“ER24 arrived to find the local authorities and security forces already in attendance,” he said.
“On scene, medics were led into the shopping centre to the patients.
“Medics assessed the patients and found that a male security guard was in a serious condition, having sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh, while a man and woman had each sustained a gunshot wound to their foot.
“The patients were treated, and the seriously injured man was provided with pain-relief medication before they were transported to a nearby hospital for further care.
“It is understood that a law enforcement officer that was in a serious condition was transported privately to a nearby hospital.
“Local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” Meiring said.
Metro police’s Ruth Solomons said their teams were also involved in the arrest of the third suspect: “Metro Police officers arrested a suspect in connection with a Post Office robbery in Eerste River yesterday.
“Officers responded to a complaint of an armed robbery in progress and when they arrived, the suspects had already fled.
“But officers were able to arrest one of the suspects, a 54-year-old male after receiving a tip off.
“Kleinvlei police arrested two more suspects and recovered an unknown amount of cash,” Solomons said.
Weekend Argus