A 25-year-old man is expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates court on Thursday on charges of business robbery, attempted hijacking and pointing a firearm.
Police Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the man was actually arrested by a member of the community who was assisted by Atlas.
The alert man walked past a business in 4th Avenue in Newton park when he heard noises sounding like a taser, when he looked into the shop he noticed the suspect with his face half covered threatening the 36-year-old cashier.
The man ran looking for help and flagged down an Atlas security vehicle.
Naidu says by this time the suspect was running out of the shop towards the corner of the road. The community member and Atlas gave chase. The suspect then allegedly tried to hijack a woman who just turned into a parking lot, but by this time he was apprehended by the brave community member.
The man made a citizens arrest with the help of an Atlas security guard.
Police arrived on the scene shortly after where it was discovered that the gun used in the robbery was, in fact, a toy.
Naidu says detectives are attempting to link the suspect to another robbery case committed in Kabega Park.
A fish and chips outlet in Kabega Park was robbed last week by a man who also used a taser.
