Police in Gqeberha are investigating an armed robbery after four men stole jewellery worth half a million rand at Baywest Mall.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says four suspects entered the mall shortly before noon on Sunday before two of them entered a jewellery store on the upper floor.
She says staff members were threatened with a firearm and ordered to fill a bag with jewellery from the display cabinet.
Colonel Naidu says as the men were escaping, they were accosted by a security guard at the exit and a shot was fired towards him.
The guard was not injured but the suspects managed to escape in a BMW that was reported as stolen in Edenvale, Gauteng last month.
Colonel Naidu says the Humansdorp K9 unit responded swiftly and the vehicle was pulled over on the N2 at about 12.35.
She says only one suspect was in the car and arrested on the spot.
The 35-year-old had a firearm with its serial numbers filed off in his possession as well as one ring that still had a price tag on it.
It is alleged that the three other suspects got off near Thornhill and fled in a silver Toyota Conquest.
Police warned communities to refrain from buying suspected stolen property as they too will be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Baywest Management thanked SAPS for their quick response and said that the mall was operating as normal and that they were implementing all measures to ensure the safety of tenants and customers.
Nobody was injured.
