On Monday afternoon, a group of armed men stormed a jewellery store at the Nicolway Mall in Bryanston, Johannesburg, firing shots and fleeing with stolen items.
The incident led to panic among shoppers and staff, who sought safety as the assailants carried out the robbery in broad daylight.
Robbery Details
The robbery occurred shortly after 2pm when several armed men entered the jewellery store. According to police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the group smashed glass display cabinets, taking an undisclosed amount of jewellery. Shots were fired into the roof of the mall, but no injuries were reported. The suspects fled the scene in two vehicles, identified as a red Nissan and a grey Hyundai sedan, and remain at large.
Jason Harter, an eyewitness, described the scene as the robbers made their escape: “I saw there was a bit of commotion, I looked up towards the jewellery store, saw there were hands with gloves taking some things off the shelf at the demo section. I saw people start to scatter, the group of gentlemen emerged and suddenly they got to the escalator and started firing some shots to disperse the crowd.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Several eyewitnesses reported the chaos that unfolded when the shots were fired. Radio 702’s Thabo Shole-Mashao, who was at the mall during the robbery, said, “A couple of men just came running down the corridors at the lower level of Nicolway in Bryanston. We just started hearing gunshots going off and everyone was running amok. People started hiding in different shops, myself included. But it was panic and pandemonium that a shooting just started going off in the middle of the day at Nicolway in Bryanston.”
Harter also noted the swiftness of the operation, stating, “It was well planned and carried out… very particularly planned, and in and out, I would wager, in less than seven to eight minutes.”
Police Response
The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to the scene, launching an investigation into the business robbery. As officers gathered evidence, they cordoned off the area, drawing attention from curious bystanders. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward. “The suspects reportedly fired gunshots before fleeing the scene in two vehicles… No one was injured from the shots and the suspects are still at large,” Nevhuhulwi confirmed.
Implications for the Jewellery Industry
This incident highlights the ongoing risk of armed robberies targeting high-value goods in South Africa, particularly jewellery. Jewellers should review their security measures, especially in high-traffic retail environments. The rapid execution of this heist underscores the importance of deterrents like advanced surveillance systems, reinforced glass displays, and clear response protocols during an attack.
With the suspects still at large, the investigation remains ongoing. Police have encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
