KNYSNA NEWS - A 46-year-old woman and three men, aged between 37 and 40, were arrested on Tuesday afternoon, 25 February outside Makhanda in the Eastern Cape in connection with the daring robbery of the Knysna Pick n Pay at 07:00 on the same day.
The suspects were allegedly found in possession of an undisclosed amount of cash and two firearms.
Court appearance
According to police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk, the suspects will appear in the Peddie Magistrate's Court soon, and thereafter the case will be transferred to the Knysna SAPS, and the suspects brought to Knysna.
In an earlier statement police confirmed that two suspects entered the store and robbed it of an undisclosed amount of cash.
Hijacked vehicle abandoned
The suspects hijacked a vehicle while fleeing the scene, but the vehicle was found abandoned, and it was retained by police for further forensic processing.
At this stage it is unknown by what means the suspects were travelling at the time of their arrest.
Footage goes viral
CCTV footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows two suspects forcibly attempting to enter the store while a security guard tries to prevent them from gaining access.
A 46-year-old woman and three men, aged between 37 and 40, were arrested outside Makhanda on Tuesday in connection with the robbery.
The situation quickly escalates, with the security guard retreating after his resistance comes to an end.
The two men split up, heading in different directions, as they carry out the crime.
In the footage, it is unclear whether the suspects are armed, although it appears as if they are concealing something in their bags and clothing.
Safety measures questioned
The incident has left many questioning the safety measures in place at the store, particularly the guard's decision to flee rather than to continue trying to keep the robbers at bay.
In a statement, Pick n Pay said: "The incident happened before the store was open and thankfully no one was hurt during the robbery.
"The SAPS is investigating the incident, and we will provide every assistance to them."
'Inside job' theory
Many residents and social media users have been speculating about the nature of the crime.
Some believe the robbery could have been an "inside job", given the robbers' apparent familiarity with the store's layout.
Others have defended the security guard's actions, noting that confronting potentially armed robbers could have been extremely dangerous.
The Knysna police have urged the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the investigation continues.
Read previous articles:
- Pick n Pay suspects arrested | Knysna-Plett Herald
- Robbery at Pick n Pay in Long Street | Knysna-Plett Herald
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