Plett post office robbed

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - An elaborate heist at the Plettenberg Bay Post Office, which is located next to the local police station, saw a gang of criminals make off with an undisclosed amount of money last week.

Plettenberg Bay police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse related the events as established in a preliminary investigation.

The drama started unfolding at 06:20 on Monday 4 January when a suspect knocked on a door in Phase 4, Kwanokuthula. A woman who lives in one of two flats in the area, was preparing for work when the man knocked on her door and told her he was there to check the property’s electricity meter box.

He also asked who was staying in the second home on the property. “When she told him that no one was living there, he asked her for the key to the post office,” Pieterse said.

The woman allegedly told the man that the key was in the “main house” on the property. “He told her to go and fetch the key, but when she entered the property she was met by four men with firearms. She realised that something was wrong.”

The man who had knocked on her door then pointed a firearm at her back and pushed her into a bedroom. “He told her that they knew that she worked at the post office and that they knew there were three safes.”

Two other women, one of whom is the post office branch manager, were also being held in the house.

The women eventually handed over the post office and safe keys as well as the access pin.

“They took the keys to the branch manager’s Chevrolet Spark,” said Pieterse.

Three suspects left in the vehicle while two remained behind, allegedly holding the three women hostage.

It is believed that the three men who left in the vehicle drove to the post office. “They however kept on phoning the other suspects as they could not locate the safe. One of the women explained to them where the safe was, while the suspects threatened them.”

The two men who remained with the women left the property with the women’s cellphones and locked the door behind them at 07:20.

Pieterse said the complainants alerted neighbours, who in turn informed the police.

It later became clear that the other suspects did manage to gain access to the post office and safe and that an undisclosed amount of money was taken. No one was injured.

“The Kwanokuthula police opened a case of house robbery and theft of a motor vehicle, and Plett police opened a case of housebreaking. No arrests have been made since,” said Pieterse.

“We are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may assist or help trace the suspects. Those with information can contact the detective, Warrant Officer Theodore Windvogel, on 073 619 9974.”

It later became clear that the other suspects did manage to gain access to the post office and safe and that an undisclosed amount of money was taken.