AN off duty cop has been praised for his courage in stopping a crime. This after the officer allegedly got caught in the crossfire with tsotsis robbing a fuel station in Hebron outside Acornhoek, Mpumalanga on Thursday, 6 July.
The fuel station that was robbed was donated and handed over to the community by former Minister of Minerals and Energy, Jeff Radebe, jointly with Engen Petroleum Company in April 2019 with aim to alleviate poverty and create jobs for residents.
Upon arrival to the station, the Sun Team was greeted by still frightened workers who said the robbery was traumatic.
Police spokesman, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said three armed suspects stormed into the shop at the fuel station and held the cashier at gunpoint.
"The suspects then robbed the victim and took an undisclosed amount of cash, airtime as well as some cigarettes. It is further indicated that as the suspects were about to flee from the scene, an off duty police officer who was somehow alerted about the incident came into the shop.
"The member bravely confronted the armed suspects and in the process, there was a shoot-out between him and the suspects. It is also reported that during this engagement, the member managed to shoot one of the robbers, however his accomplices are said to have carried him to the car and fled the scene," he said.
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Mohlala said a case of business robbery with a count of attempted murder is being investigated by the police. "So far no one has been arrested and the police are still in pursuit of the suspects," he said.
The officer was praised by Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela, for his bravely. "We're on the heels of these suspects and they will be behind the bars soon," she said.
Anyone with information on the suspects' whereabouts can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
