Shoppers scurry as bullets fly

Shoppers scurry as bullets fly

2010-04-12 22:33
Bongani Hans, The Witness

Pietermaritzburg - Pandemonium broke out as staff and customers ran for cover at a shop in Greytown when about 12 men armed with AK47s shot randomly, wounding a security guard and a shopper, during a dramatic cash-in-transit heist on Monday morning.The Aheer Power Trade Cash and Carry, where the robbery happened at about 10:00, was left with its roof and walls riddled with bullet holes.Eyewitnesses said they saw the large group of armed men getting away with three boxes of cash.This was after they had sprayed bullets, apparently to scare away customers, shop staff and guards from G4S Security Services, who had just collected money from the shop. "After hearing two shots, I ran towards the main entrance to see what was happening. But as I got to the entrance I saw the large group of men carrying big rifles, including AK47s. They just shot wildly," store co-owner Ashok Aheer said.The attack happened moments after two guards loaded cash into their truck. "As they started shooting randomly in the undercover parking I dived for cover and lay on the ground. Some customers ran to hide behind cars, while others ran into the shop," he said.Big machine gunsHe estimated that there were about 12 robbers, about six using AK47s."Others were shooting with other big machine guns and pistols," he said.Aheer said the gang started shooting before the cash guards could close their truck. One guard was shot in the stomach."The other guard retaliated, but it seems he ran out of ammunition. The driver of the truck was seated inside the vehicle," he said.He said after the robbers got away in a gold Mercedes-Benz and a black Corsa bakkie he ran to help the injured guard. Aheer said a number of customers' vehicles had their tyres and windows shot out."After a while I went to the back of the shop where I found a lady customer lying on the floor with a bullet wound to the leg."She was shot in the parking lot and apparently ran through the shop to the back, where she collapsed," he said.Getaway cars abandonedAbout six police vans and three ambulances arrived to ferry the injured to hospital.The Field Security company also responded to the call and chased the robbers.Its employee Sedesh Maharaj said the Mercedes-Benz and Corsa were found abandoned in Nadi near Makhabeleni in Kranskop, about 15km from Greytown."I can't give you further information because we are working closely with police in this investigation," Maharaj said.G4S spokesperson Wendy Hardy said the injured guard's condition is serious but stable.She could not disclose the amount of cash that was taken. A police captain, who attended the scene, said about 40 spent AK47 and 9mm cartridges were found."So far we have not arrested anyone, but we are trying hard to catch them,” said the captain.ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks said the injured guard needed advanced life support intervention.Police spokesperson Captain Thulani Zwane said the robbers took three boxes of cash but left another one after it fell.
- The Witness
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