A security officer from Red Alert was shot and wounded by armed robbers at a Pep Stores outlet in Vincent, East London, on Monday morning when he was responding to a robbery in progress after a panic signal was received from the store.
It is alleged the robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of money but left behind the goods they had robbed after a “quick response” from Red Alert.
A person who works near the store told the Dispatch he heard one gunshot.“I then saw a security guard who was bleeding.
Some men came out of the store and fled the scene in a vehicle that was parked nearby,” said the eyewitness.
Red Alert spokesperson, Brett Harvey, said: “I can confirm that this morning we received emergency signals from a business premises in Devereux Avenue (Vincent).”
“Our armed response team was dispatched and on arrival, with back up coming, our officer approached the scene with caution to investigate what was occurring. The suspects seemed to have spotters that alerted the other suspects inside the building.
“Our officer was ambushed while coming around a corner and was unfortunately shot in the face by one of the suspects. Our Emergency Medical Services personnel were quick on scene and immediately took him to hospital.
“He is doing well and is in high spirits recovering. It is alleged that atleast seven suspects were involved in the armed robbery and were most likely spooked by our officers arrival, as lots of goods in bags were left behind on the scene. We are currently working with the SAPS in an on-going investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Harvey.
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