Three burglars were caught red-handed trying to make off with stock from an IT shop at Pepper Grove Mall in the early hours of Friday 29 November.
Three burglars were caught red-handed trying to make off with stock from an IT shop at Pepper Grove Mall in the early hours of Friday 29 November.
The three were apprehended by members of a local security company in what is suspected to be an inside job. A fourth man sped off in a getaway vehicle.
Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said several items including computer monitors, projectors and decoders taken from Insight Technologies were recovered.
Police have launched a full investigation into the robbery.
Early on Friday morning Govender said a local security officer went to check out the shop premises after its alarm went off.
When he got there, the guard was confronted by a man claiming to be a cleaner.
"After a short while he noticed another two males carrying boxes from the store. [The guard] immediately called for assistance which responded within a short period," she said.
A man driving one of two vehicles that the robbers were using managed to get away, according to Govender, even though the security officer fired several shots.
"As soon as assistance from his colleagues arrived, three of the suspects were arrested and the stolen items recovered," Govender said.
Speaking to Hi-Tec Security's Kenny Knoetze shortly after the incident, he told Grocott's Mail they believe the robbery could be an inside job.
Suspecting the men to be from out of town, he said they appear to be a professional group.
He said the men who were driving in a VW Polo gained entrance to the shop from the back and triggered the alarm as soon as they entered the building.
"These guys are from outside Grahamstown, but they got in through the back entrance and made their way straight to the store room where all the items were stored," Knoetze said.
When one of the drivers was trying to make his escape he also tried to run over the Hi-Tec guards as fled the scene.
Knoetze said the driver had a gun, but couldn't use it while behind the wheel.
The three men who were arrested didn't have any weapons on them when they were caught.
This is the second time in the last year that Insight Technologies has been hit by robbers.
Knoetze said they anticipate more armed robberies this weekend because it's the end of the month. "There might be more this weekend, but we are ready for them," he said.
The three men will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court soon on charges of business burglary.
Anyone with information can contact the Grahamstown police on 046 603 9111.
