KNYSNA | PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Brazen robbers targeted a Plettenberg Bay bakery in the centre of town in the early morning on Sunday 23 October before allegedly targeting another business in Knysna later that day.
A minibus was also stolen the night before in Kwanokuthula.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie said the bakery robbery took place shortly after employees of the bakery in Main Street reported for duty at about 05:35.
He added that information available suggested that one of the employees was accosted and forced back into the bakery by four unknown men after she went outside to open a gas bottle.
"The suspects forced the employees to sit down on the floor, while they tied their hands with shoelaces. They then demanded cash from the victims and also demanded to see the owner of the business who was not present. One of the suspects kicked the office door open and took a white money box containing an undisclosed amount of cash," Pojie said.
He added another suspect took one of the workers to the till, and instructed him to open it before removing cash inside. "The suspects also took all cell phones and cash from the employees before they fled the scene." Pojie said no one was injured.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head, Otto Olivier said the robbery was reported shortly after taking place and various crime fighters immediately sprung into action. This included information sharing between local security companies, Bitou Law Enforcement, police and the use of CCTV footage.
The area's license plate recognition camera system flagged a vehicle suspected to have been connected to the Plettenberg Bay incident and another business robbery in Knysna later in the day.
Olivier said a suspect was arrested following a joint operation with various branches of police. "The vehicle believed to have been used in the robberies was confiscated for further forensic investigation." Pojie could not confirm if this was the case before going to print.
In another separate incident a minibus was stolen late the previous evening in the Kwanokuthula area, but was recovered a mere 20 minutes later thanks to the cohesion between various crime fighters in Plettenberg Bay.
Increase in crime
Olivier said they have noticed an increase in crime over the last couple of weeks.
"Opportunistic crime is a challenge; not being alert and crime wise can lead to you being the next victim. I totally agree it is every person's right to sleep with open patio doors or windows at night, especially when it is hot or leave your stuff on coffee tables, kitchen benches etc.
"Unfortunately, crime has become a business practice for crime lords all over the world, using the unemployed and drug addicts as workforce. Ruthless acts of criminality in South Africa have become the norm.
"We as law abiding citizens need to stay a step ahead of these thugs.
"Be alert, make it part of your daily life to observe your surroundings, check for suspicious behaviour, be prepared for the unthinkable while living your life to the fullest."
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