National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said the five men who robbed a Nike factory shop and two police officers at the Atterbury value mart east of Pretoria yesterday were desperate.

Cele was speaking to reporters outside Menlyn Park mall, where four of the suspects were arrested after a dramatic chase.

The fifth suspect is still at large.

"We have realised that the thugs are now aiming at soft targets like stores," said Cele.

"For five men to go and rob R7000 tells you how desperate they are and we will be closing all those little holes to make sure that South Africans are safe."

Cele said the police have done such a good job fighting crime that there was no space for criminals.

"Police officers will be on the ground to make sure that criminals do not terrorise people this festive season."

The five armed men robbed the store at about noon yesterday.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou said the gang disarmed three police officers in the store.

Two of the disarmed officers were patrolling the area. They entered the store as part of their routine and found the robbery was in progress.

Two more police detectives, one of whom was not armed, were to meet a witness when they entered the store.

"The thugs disarmed three of the officers before locking them and the staff in the storeroom."

The suspects were cornered by police near the N1 freeway.