Star Superette in Main Road, Diep River, was robbed for a second time in three months on Friday October 14.
Warrant Officer Keith Chandler of Diep River police said the shop was first robbed in July. On Friday, seven men entered the shop at 11.15am. Four of them were armed.
They ordered the owner, a foreign national, to open the cash register, which they emptied.
The men also stole cigarettes, airtime and three cellphones before fleeing to a minibus waiting in the side road, Warrant Officer Chandler said.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Sergeant Phumlani Damba at 021 710 7357.
On Monday October 17, police arrested five men linked to 14 burglary and robbery cases.
According to Sergeant Deirdre Solomon of Kirstenhof police, a neighbourhood watch patroller noticed the men placing household items in the vehicle, which turned out to be rented, in Norfolk Park in the early hours of the morning.
The patroller notified police and followed the vehicle, until back-up arrived.
“A response team went to a house in Regis Road, Norfolk Park, where the residents of the house were found locked inside the bathroom,” Sergeant Solomon said.
Police then gave chase of the vehicle which had reached Baden Powell Drive and was driving in the direction of Mitchell’s Plain.
The vehicle was pulled over in Khayelitsha by Harare police. The men were found to be in possession of the stolen items from the house robbery and a firearm. They were arrested and detained at Kirstenhof police station.
The men were charged with house robbery. Police searched the men’s homes and recovered televisions, laptops, cellphones and cards linked to 14 cases reported throughout the city.
A thief was caught in the act of vandalising traffic lights in Southfield over the weekend.
Warrant Officer Chandler said an armed response patrol vehicle employee was coming off shift when he noticed that the traffic lights weren’t working on the corner of Princess Vlei and De Waal roads.
“The traffic lights were out and the grey box which controls the traffic lights was broken open,” Warrant Officer Chandler said.
The officer noticed a man loading two large batteries into the makeshift crate basket on the back of a bicycle and contacted police.
“A case of theft and possession of stolen property was opened,” Warrant Officer Chandler said.
The man was due to appear at Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday October 17. Anyone with information can contact Detective Sergeant Shaun Lawrence at 021 710 7351.