Armed response escape flying bullets unharmed in Berea

A Blue Security armed response officer was lucky to survive a shooting unharmed after he disturbed a gang of armed robbers on the Berea at the weekend.

Blue Security community and media liaison officer Andreas Mathios said the armed response officer responded to an alarm activation at a business premises at around 5.35am on Saturday.

“When the officer arrived at the scene and pulled into the driveway he spotted a suspect standing outside the security guard room.

The suspect opened fire on his armed response vehicle and the officer immediately reversed back out of the driveway and managed to dodge the gunfire. The large gang of suspects, who were driving three vehicles, including a grey Nissan Almera, fled the scene,” Mathios said.

Mathios said upon investigation it was found that the suspects had gained entry into the building and stolen computers.

In a separate incident in Morningside a gang of armed robbers held up patrons and staff at a business premises at around 8.55pm on Friday night.

“The suspects entered the premises pretending to be customers before pulling out firearms and ordering patrons to put their hands up in the air. The suspects then robbed the business and patrons of cash, cellphones, jewellery and other valuables. No injuries were reported,” Mathios said.

Members of Durban Central SAPS attended the scene of the crime.

Mathios added that in a third incident in Van Riebeeck Park a resident was robbed of garden equipment in broad daylight at around 10.55am on Saturday morning.

“The resident was busy cutting the grass when two suspects who were armed with knives, gained entry onto his property and held him up at knifepoint. The suspects fled the scene with a grass cutting machine. All of the victims left the scene unharmed with injuries were reported,” Mathios said.

Brighton Beach SAPS attended the scene of the crime.