A brazen skelm who held a 65-year-old Plumstead store owner at gunpoint is behind bars after wakker armed response officers foiled the robbery.
The skelm was caught by security guards from Combat Force who witnessed the attempted robbery on Wednesday morning while out on patrol.
Combat Force manager Michael Cameron says the swift action by the officers saw them chase and catch the skelm as he tried to flee down Victoria Road.
“Shortly before 6am, officers Robin Fernandez and Riedewaaan Heynes were out on patrol when they saw the owner of a car battery shop being held at gunpoint through the window of the store.
“The owner arrived earlier than usual to charge the batteries after the load shedding of the night before.
“He was alone in the store when the suspect came inside and asked for work.
“Then he pulled out a gun and demanded the owner’s cellphone.
“At that same time the officers were passing by and immediately jumped into action.”
When the dief realised he was spotted, he ran out of the store and threw the gun under a nearby car.
“They wrestled him down to the ground and arrested him. They recovered the firearm and it was later discovered that it was a gas gun.
“He was taken back to the store where police were called and he was charged.”
SAPS’ Andrè Traut confirms the arrest and says the suspect will appear in Wynberg Magistrates’ Court for attempted robbery once charged.