On Wednesday, February 17, roughly 40 people entered a luxury car dealership, The Toy Shop, in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, and started ransacking the establishment.

The intention, it seems, was to make off with a few cars, but police suspect other motives may have been in play.

The group allegedly threatened the staff at the dealership with firearms, asking them to hand over the cars. When that request was denied, they assaulted one of the men in the dealership and started destroying the vehicles.

Many of the cars didn’t make it out in one piece.

The incident, reports News24, was captured on CCTV cameras, with the aftermath recorded by staff once the men had cleared out.

It’s difficult to watch:

More of the aftermath of the attack:

Car showroom in Northgate, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town- staff assaulted and cars damaged. pic.twitter.com/WQ8e2caSuL

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 17, 2021

Western Cape Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana says that the men destroyed the chassis and lights of eight vehicles.

She says that “the possibility that the incident is extortion related cannot be ruled out”.

The ruthless extortion racket in Cape Town has been growing in both size and strength with incidents on Long Street and in the CBD well documented.

Gangs, like the Guptas and Boko Harams, appear to be widening their nets to other parts of Cape Town.

Thankfully nobody was seriously injured during the incident at The Toy Shop.

Police have opened a case of business robbery and malicious damage to property.

[source:news24]