GQEBERHA - A brave shop assistant foiled a robbery yesterday morning at about 10:00, when he arrested and de-armed one of the suspects.

This followed after two male suspects, one armed with a firearm entered an electrical business in Mkombe Street, Ikamvelihle and demanded cash and vehicle keys. The brave shop assistant engaged in a struggle with the suspect with the firearm and managed to subdue him and take his firearm. The other suspect grabbed the vehicle keys and fled the scene in a white Ford Icon which he stole from the premises.

SAPS Ikamvelihle was contacted and the suspect and his firearm were handed over to the police. The 62-year-old suspect was arrested and the 9mm Norinco pistol with four (4) live rounds, confiscated. The firearm will be sent for further forensic and ballistic analysis to determine if it was used in any other crimes.

Cases of business robbery as well as Illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition were opened. The suspect will be appearing before the Motherwell magistrate’s court on Monday 4 April 2022.

Police are still searching for the white Ford Icon with registration JTD 903 EC and the remaining suspect.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Luntu Ngubelanga expressed his gratitude to the shop assistant for bravely tackling the suspect and apprehending him. Brig Ngubelanga also warned civilians that “tackling and arresting suspects especially those that are armed must only be done if the arresting person is fully confident that he/she can make such an arrest without endangering their own or other’s lives in the process. The protection of life must be first and foremost when confronting armed criminals.”

Source: South African Police Service