A SUSPECT was arrested for business robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The 19-year-old from Marite, Mpumalanga, entered a clothing shop at Lowveld Mall in Hazyview pretending to be a customer on Friday, 12 July.
Mpumalanga Police Magonseni Nkosi reported that the suspect allegedly selected clothes worth about R10 000 from the shelves and proceeded to the till to pay.
"He then attempted to pay with a bank card, but the transaction could not go through.
"The suspect pretended to sort out the problem with his card on his phone. When the cashier was still waiting, the suspect took out a firearm and instructed the cashier not to attempt anything. The suspect fled the scene on foot with items from the shop," said Nkosi.
He added that the cashier screamed for help. The store manager chased the suspect who was cornered shortly with the assistance of the Mall security.
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"The suspect was found with the robbed items and a firearm and taken to Hazyview police station," Nkosi said.
Upon inspection, it was discovered that the firearm's serial numbers were filed off and it contained no bullets.
"The firearm will be taken to ballistic for further investigation," he said.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major-General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, noted that most robberies are committed with firearms that are circulating in the wrong hands.
He further stated that police in Mpumalanga will intensify their efforts to remove firearms from criminals.
The suspect is expected to appear before Whiteriver Magistrates Court on Monday, 15 July.
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