Athlone police arrested a 19-year-old skelm for a break-in at Pep stores in Gatesville on Tuesday morning.
SAPS’ Wesley Twigg said the burglary took place at 3.05am in Old Klipfontein Road.
“A 19-year-old suspect was arrested and will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 14 October 2021, on a charge of business burglary.”
While the police were unable to comment on the circumstances of the burglary or the arrest, local vendors told the Daily Voice that when they got to work, the front window of the store was broken.
A male vendor, who has a stall opposite the store, said: “When I got here after 4am, the window was lying on the ground and there were police on the scene.
“You could see the cellphone displays were thrown down but I cannot say if the thieves took anything because it happened so early.
“I heard they caught a laaitie around the corner but I do not know much more than that.”
When the Daily Voice visited the scene at about noon yesterday, the busted storefront window was still lying on the ground while a closed sign was posted on the door as Pep employees were busy cleaning up in the store.
Pep employees refused to give comment on the matter while they confirmed nobody was hurt as the store was still closed at the time of the robbery.