Armed robbers stormed Mayuris Jewellers in Chatsworth Centre, today
Image: SUPPLIED
A LOCAL pastor, who was at Chatsworth Centre during a robbery at Mayuris Jewellers today, said he was terrified when he realised that he was standing next to a suspect from the heist gang.
At the time the suspect was holding a mall security guard at gunpoint outside the jewellery store.
Pastor Selvan Govender, an IFP councillor, said he was at Wimpy, situated opposite Mayuris Jewellers when eight armed suspects stormed the store.
He said as he exited Wimpy, he saw a security guard sitting on the stairs trembling and a man, wearing a reflective jacket standing next to the guard.
The suspects allegedly made their getaway in this vehcile
Image: SUPPLIED
“At that time, I did not realise that Mayuris was being robbed. There were no gunshots. I approached the guard and asked if he was okay. He just looked at me blankly and was still shaking.
“I then asked the man standing next to him what was going on, but the man just looked at me and said nothing. Within seconds, I saw about six men running out of Mayuris. The man who was standing next to the guard then raised his firearm and cocked it. He then ran towards the exit and fled with the other suspects,” Govender said.
He said the security guard had been threatened at gunpoint so as to not raise the alarm about the robbery.
He said the suspects were wearing surgical masks and carried a grey bag.
“They had their guns in the air, and looked like they were prepared to shoot their way out if anybody tried to stop them
“When I went to check on the staff at Mayuris, they had locked the doors and the alarm was on. The staff indicated through the glass windows that nobody was injured and that they would keep the store locked until the police arrived,” he said.
Rukhsana Sayed, 31, who worked at a nearby store, said she watched in horror as a security guard was chased and assaulted by one of the suspects from the gang.
She said the security guard was making his way to the Mayuris Jewellers level when he noticed another guard looking under pressure.
“As he walked towards the guard, I saw a man with a gun rush at him. There were a few shoppers who were already running past our store. We knew something was wrong so we closed our doors.
“The suspect ran after the guard and caught him by his belt. He then hit the guard on his head with the gun. The guard was badly injured and had a deep laceration to the back of his head.
“I went to Mayuris after the suspects fled to check on the staff. They told us that an Indian man had approached the door and the staff had opened the gate to let him in. But the man had jammed the gate with his leg and the suspects stormed in. We are thankful that nobody was shot,” Sayed said.
Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said paramedics treated six staff members for shock and one security guard for head injuries.
He said the guard was transported to hospital.
Vish Mudaly, spokesperson of the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum (CPF) said they were in close communication with SAPS to monitor the situation and to ensure that all available information is gathered.
“At this stage, we can confirm that police are investigating and increased visibility has been requested in and around the centre,” he said.