Police are searching for five armed robbers who assaulted customers and store owners at a popular centre in Bulwer Road, Glenwood.
|||Durban - Police are searching for five armed robbers who assaulted customers and store owners at a popular business premises in Bulwer Road, Glenwood, on Thursday afternoon.
A nearby shop owner who did not want to be named, said the robbers entered the building pretending to be customers.
He said a staff member at the Earth Mother Organic managed to evade the robbers and climb over a backyard fence. He then alerted the shop owner to the armed robbery in progress.
The staff member, who also did not want be named, said the robbers entered all four of the businesses situated in the building and ordered staff and customers to lie on the floor.
They demanded cash and cellphones and cleared out the cash tills.
One of the store owners said a robber had kicked her on the side of her leg.
She said five people, including three children, were pushed into the corner of the shop.
The robbery happened in less than a minute. The robbers were spotted loading two buckets containing stolen items into a customer’s car parked nearby.
They then sped off.
Police found the vehicle abandoned near Cato Manor.
The shop owner claimed when he looked at the driver in the getaway vehicle, he was threatened.
“The robber wagged his finger, ran his thumb across his neck and pointed his finger at me,” the shop owner said.
He said he felt intimidated and feared for his life.
One of the customers was robbed of his shoes, phone and cash.
A woman was punched in the eye when she delayed in giving her cellphone to the robbers.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said Umbilo police were investigating a case of business robbery.
Daily News