September brings in Spate of Violent Business Armed Robberies

The first weekend in September saw the occurrence of a spate of violent business robberies in and around Durban.
“Armed gangs robbed various businesses of computer hardware and fire equipment and looted others as well as inflicting massive damage to property,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.
“In the first of many incidents, all of which occurred in the early hours over the weekend, a security guard was held up by an armed suspect wielding a firearm and ordered to open the main gate of the business premises in Seaview,” Mathios said.
“Three more suspects then drove onto the property and forced themselves into the building. They then proceeded to remove a large amount of computer equipment, which included 14 monitors, a flatscreen TV, and 14 computer boxes,” he said. “The gang then made their getaway in the awaiting vehicle. Bellair SAPS attended the scene and investigations are continuing,” he said.
In a similar incident in Umgeni Business Park, multiple alarm activations were received by Blue Security’s control centre when an unknown number of suspects arrived at the premises and held up the security guards at gunpoint.
“The guards were forced, at gunpoint, to lie facedown on the ground while the suspects drove to the business premises inside the business park. The gang removed fire equipment before fleeing in an awaiting silver BMW,” he said. “No shots were fired and no-one was injured. A store-room door was damaged during the break-in,” he said. Investigations are continuing.
A far larger gang of suspects invaded two neighbouring business premises in the early hours of Sunday morning in Umbilo.”A Blue Security reaction officer responded to an alarm activation in Leeds Road but, on arrival, saw at least ten suspects at the entrance door. He immediately called for backup,” Mathios said. “When the suspects noticed the units’ presence they opened fire on the officers before fleeing in the direction of the railway line near Truro Road,” he said.
“Intent on entering the premises the suspects had forced the burglar gate, cut the locks on the roller pedestrian door, and damaged the alarm system before ransacking and looting the interior,” he said. “The business next-door suffered the same fate with their internal roller door forced, alarm system damaged, internal area ransacked and numerous clothing items stolen,” he said. “Some clothing was recovered outside the premises. Investigations are continuing by SAPS,” he said.
“In a separate incident less than a kilometre away, staff members arriving at work at an Umbilo supermarket were attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning,” Mathios said. “Eight armed suspects arrived at the supermarket in a vehicle and proceeded to assault and rob employees waiting outside to start their shift,” he said. “The gang fled in their getaway car. Umbilo SAPS attended the scene and investigations are continuing,” he said.
“In north Durban, a front shop-window of a restaurant/takeaway outlet near Gateway was shattered on Sunday morning,” Mathios said. “Reaction officers immediately responded to the alarm activation but further inspection revealed that nothing was stolen during the incident,” he said. Durban North SAPS attended the scene.