PORT ELIZABETH - THE FULL GREENACRES SHOPPING MALL ROBBERY DETAILS

A 66-year-old man was shot dead after five armed men robbed a jewellery store in Port Elizabeth on Friday morning.

The men entered Fischer’s Jewellers in Greenacres shopping centre at about 9.30am and held staff up‚ said police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg.

The suspects ran out of the centre and tried to hijack a vehicle in the parking area‚ but were confrontation by police‚ she said.

The suspects then attempted to steal a bakkie but the owner‚ the 66-year-old‚ resisted and was shot dead.

Janse van Rensburg said the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot towards a cellphone shop.

“Another confrontation took place between the suspects and a security guard. The suspects succeeded in hijacking a white VW Polo‚” she said.

“Three of the four suspects drove away in the Polo while one fled on foot and was arrested in Westview Drive‚ Mill Park‚ by another security company.”

The Polo was found in a cul-de-sac and the suspects were seen fleeing towards the taxi rank in Durban Road‚ Korsten.

“Police arrested two suspects in a taxi and two firearms were found in their possession. Some of the stolen jewellery was also recovered‚” Janse van Rensburg said.

More of the jewellery was found at a parking lot.

“Police have opened cases of armed robbery‚ two counts of attempted hijacking‚ car jacking‚ murder‚ two counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property‚” said Janse van Rensburg.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

VIA - timeslive.co.za