Criminals in the City of Cape Town have turned their attention to upmarket businesses, and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District has recently seen an increase in levels of armed robberies.

Earlier this month, an armed gang robbed Cape Town’s Diamond Works shop opposite the Cape Town International Convention Centre and two weeks ago, a jewellery store at a luxury CBD hotel was targeted by 15 armed men who threatened a security guard to gain access.

The most recent robbery took place at Uwe Koetter Jewellers in the upmarket Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village, in Green Point, yesterday.

IOL reports that four men, one armed with a gun and the rest with sledgehammers, entered the premises. The men then fled the scene in a white Ford Fiesta.

Koetter’s daughter, Susanne Schilling-Koetter, said they were traumatised by the robbery.

“The suspects came in with sledgehammers, broke the front display and took those pieces. Their takings are estimated to be worth millions.

“It all happened very fast. They went in, got what they wanted and left. We are grateful that nobody was hurt during the robbery. I believe that this is a syndicate operating in the city,” said Schilling-Koetter.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana confirms that a case of business robbery has been opened and is under investigation.

“Cape Town Central police are investigating a business robbery case subsequent to an incident that occurred after 10am at Somerset Road, Cape Town.

“Police detectives are following up on leads in order to bring the perpetrators to book,” said Rwexana.

EWN received reports of gunshots, although it’s unclear whether these were actual shots fired or the sound of the sledgehammers breaking display cases.

Melarn Raynard, who works at a carpet shop in the centre, said that she hid when she heard what sounded like gunshots.

Raynard said she thought her life was in danger: “People are completely stressed out and very emotional. We did hear a bit of chaos but I think, for me, I just wanted to protect myself and went down onto the floor and into the other shop and hid behind the desk. They need to jack up security.”

In an official press statement sent out by Uwe Koetter, the company said that “no shots were fired and no-one was injured. The ordeal was over in 90 seconds.”

The statement added that they were “incredibly proud of the calm manner in which [staff] handled the situation under difficult conditions”, which is why the loss of stock was so minimal.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 0860 010111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.

[source:iol&ewn]