Robbers botch Durban cellphone store heists

11 May 2017 - 16:33 By Jeff Wicks
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Image: Sello Matshweu via Google Photo

Cellphone retailers at two popular Durban malls got off lightly after being hit by gangs of robbers in the early hours of Thursday morning - but the thieves got away with nothing.

The robberies‚ at the La Lucia Mall and the Atrium in Overport‚ are the latest in a string of heists at city retail outlets. They all follow a similar modus operandi‚ with gangs of heavily armed men breaking into the storefronts using hammers before fleeing with anything that they can grab.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-colonel Thulani Zwane said that in La Lucia‚ the robbery was first discovered at 5am.

“A cellphone shop was allegedly broken into and nothing was taken. A case of burglary in business premises has been opened at Durban North police station for investigation‚” he said.

Less than half an hour later‚ robbers struck two outlets in The Atrium in Overport.

Zwane said that a security guard on patrol had spotted a gang of six men attempting to break into a cellphone shop.

“He approached them and they threatened to shoot him. The suspects then fled the scene. Nothing was taken and no injuries were reported. The police were called and it was discovered that the shop was broken into‚ however the suspects failed to gain entry‚” Zwane added.

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