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Eastern Cape police are searching for an armed gang that pulled off a brazen robbery at a business premises in Ngqushwa (Peddie) on Saturday, bombing ATM's and taking an undisclosed amount of cash from the business.
Provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, said an unknown number of males, wearing balaclavas, stormed into the business, reportedly a newly build convenience centre on the N2, carrying high calibre rifles.
"They bombed ATMs that were located inside the shop, and an undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the business," she said.
Mawisa said they allegedly used two vehicles, a VW Polo and Ford Ranger, to make their getaway, speeding off towards the R72.
She said no one was injured during the robbery.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the Democratic Alliance’s Frontier Constituency leader, Jane Cowley, said this brazen incident resulted in several buildings being vandalised
“The destruction of new business premises and a fuel station along the N2 in Ngqushwa is devastating to the local economy,” she said.
Cowley said she has also called for better resourcing of the police in the town and other smaller towns, adding that while police responded to the scene, she said the “officers were significantly outnumbered and outgunned”.
Police are also appealing to anyone with information that can assist with the investigation to contact the SAPS CrimeStop number 08600 10111, or their nearest police station.
