Two armed robbers beat up guards, snatch loot
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday June 13, 2017 17:25
An eye witness told Mmegi that the duo raided the shop at around 9am shortly after the store opened. “Before entering the shop, the duo fired two warning shots when they were by the parking lot and ordered everyone to lie down,” one of the shop attendants, who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation, said.
The Choppies employee said it appeared the thieves were following a G4S security vehicle that was supposed to collect money from the previous day’s takings, as they attacked immediately when the security officers entered the shop. It is reported that G4S guards failed to control the situation because, like the workers, they were unarmed.
“They instructed the G4S guards to go inside the shop, ordered the till operators to give them the money and walked into the cash room. In the cash room they found that they were still busy counting the money,” said one of the employees.
It is reported that when one of the robbers entered the cash room the other kept guard outside making sure that people stayed on the ground in fear for their lives. The robbers had stolen a Corolla in Ramotswa to use as their getaway car. “We are informed that they shot the owner of the car that they were using on the leg and drove away with his car.
We heard that the police found the car abandoned near Tlokweng border gate later that day,” one shop worker said. The shop attendant said the robber, who was outside the shop had not covered his face, whilst the other one had.
Reached for comment the Botswana Police Service’s (BPS) public relations officer, Dipheko Motube said they are investigating the case. “Investigations on the matter are still at initial stage and we will communicate with the media shortly,” Motube said.