Residents traveling on the R55 outside Laudium, near the RPH Hospital were in a state of panic, as an exchange of gunshots took place between a number of private security patrollers, (including Scorpions, RSS and Monitor Net) together with police on the one side and armed thugs who had just stolen a delivery truck loaded with groceries, from a grocery warehouse, owned by a local resident, in nearby Sunderland Ridge.
The shooting incident that took place on Tuesday afternoon (Oct 28) at around 4:30pm, resulted in the busy R55 Road, near the corner of Lochner Road in Raslouw (opposite the RPH Hospital) being closed, as more police vehicles and even a police helicopter rushed to the scene, followed by ambulances.
the suspects involved in the robbery. 7 of the
thugs were arrested with the 8th robber, who
was shot, being admitted to a nearby hospital.
This, after eight armed thugs, believed to be from the Alexandra township in Johannesburg, attacked the grocery warehouse on Rudolph Street in Sunderland Ridge (near Laudium).
Two vehicles, the truck and a white Kia which was escorting the truck, were intercepted on the R55 by private security patrollers soon after leaving the warehouse, resulting in a shootout between the two groups, with police later joining in. Eventually, seven of the thugs were arrested, with the remaining one taken to hospital after being shot. One of the security patrollers was also taken to hospital after being shot at. Police also seized a number of firearms from the scene.
Raslouw Security Service (RSS) supervisor for the R55/Raslouw area, Magwazeni Thole, who also patrols the Raslouw Hospital Complex, told the Laudium Sun, “I was on duty when the shooting incident happened and it was really shocking. The day was passing well, then all of a sudden we saw a truck along with a white Kia car which was being followed by some security companies, on the R55. Then they stopped the Kia car and the truck, which was fully loaded with groceries. There was firing from the security companies with the police coming in thereafter, with the robbers also firing, so it was crossfire. The incident was very dramatic. It felt like a movie. It was a big heist, but we luckily managed to prevent the robbers from getting away with the stocks inside the truck. One of our security guards was badly injured and seven robbers were arrested on the spot. One robber was also shot badly and admitted to a nearby hospital along with the injured security guard. The situation was extremely tense but I am glad that the robbers got caught. It was an intense showdown that nobody could forget. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire, shouting and sirens blaring in the background. Cars screeched to a halt as people nearby ducked for cover. It was one of those moments where everything slows down and you can see the danger clearly in front of your eyes and you know that every second counts. The robbers were desperate and reckless, firing in every direction as if they had no concern for what could happen next. The security teams, however were highly trained and despite the chaos, we managed to co-ordinate and stop the robbery from becoming a full disaster. The white Kia car was used by the robbers to escort the truck after the robbery from the warehouse on Rudolph Street in Sunderland Ridge. They thought they could escape, but they underestimated the vigilance and skill of the security companies protecting this area. We have highly qualified teams in Raslouw and Sunderland Ridge and we take our jobs very seriously. Any robber planning to target these areas must thin twice to even attempt it, because we are professionals.”
Local resident Abdul Carrim, who works on Rudolph Street, Sunderland Ridge, told the Laudium Sun, “I saw the helicopter around here and I was not sure what was going on at that time. But as time progressed, I heard that the grocery warehouse on our street had been robbed. It was shocking for us as the robbery happened very quietly, with no one in the area noticing it at the time. The whole thing felt surreal, like something out of a movie. There was a sense of fear and uncertainty, but also relief once we learned that the robbers had been apprehended. It was amazing to see how quickly the security companies and the police responded. From what I heard, the robbers tried to make a run for it, but they were stopped before they could get away. The entire neighborhood was buzzing with people talking about what happened, sharing details and speculating about how the heist took place. But in the end, the robbers were caught and the stolen goods were recovered. I believe it was all the Almighty’s plan that things turned out this way. No one was seriously harmed and the thieves did not get away with the warehouse stocks. It was a relief for everyone in Sunderland Ridge to know that even in dangerous situations, the authorities and security teams are vigilant and ready to act to protect the community.”