Suspected Newlands restaurant robber held
15 May 2008, 08:29
Police have arrested one of four men wanted for an armed robbery at Barristers restaurant in Newlands.
Spokesperson Captain Angie Latchman said the robbers had arrived at the restaurant and ordered drinks at 8.30pm on Tuesday. They had confronted the manager at the bar and held him at gunpoint.
"Another manager who saw the incident, tried to rescue his colleague, but the robbers shot him in the buttocks,"said Latchman.
"A patron at the bar also tried to help the manager but he was hit on his head with the butt of a firearm."
The robbers fled with an undisclosed sum of money in a white Mazda sedan, registration number CA 21887.
/>
Investigations led the police to a house at Browns Farm in Philippi at 11.45pm.Spokesperson Captain Angie Latchman said the robbers had arrived at the restaurant and ordered drinks at 8.30pm on Tuesday. They had confronted the manager at the bar and held him at gunpoint.
"Another manager who saw the incident, tried to rescue his colleague, but the robbers shot him in the buttocks,"said Latchman.
"A patron at the bar also tried to help the manager but he was hit on his head with the butt of a firearm."
The robbers fled with an undisclosed sum of money in a white Mazda sedan, registration number CA 21887.
"When the suspects saw the police they opened fire and a shootout ensued. One man was arrested, the other three fled," said Latchman.
The 34-year-old would appear in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Friday.
The other three were still at large, Latchman said.
In a separate incident, three men robbed a house in Gloucester Road in Bishopscourt.
Latchman said the armed men gained entrance to the residence at 8pm on Tuesday after the owner had driven through the electric main gate to his home.
"As he alighted from his vehicle, he was accosted by three armed men. They forced him into the house and demanded to be shown the safe. When the safe was opened, the robbers tied him and his wife up. They were locked in one of the bedrooms," she said.
The robbers fled with an undisclosed sum of foreign currency, jewellery, a firearm and a box of ammunition.
"They used the complainant's Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 registration number CA 929 and a Mercedes-Benz Compressor CLK C23 registration number CA 8222 as getaway cars," said Latchman.
Police found one of the stolen vehicles - the Mercedes- Benz SLK - abandoned in Blinder Street, she said.
Anyone with information may contact Sergeant Shafiek Ganief in Claremont on 021 657 2252 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. - Sapa
- This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Times on May 15, 2008
