Robbery Gone Wrong! Teenager Arrested For Robbing Lowveld Mall Shop Of R10k Clothes

A 19-year-old boy from Marite is scheduled to appear before the Whiteriver Magistrate’s Court on Monday, following his arrest in connection with a robbery at a clothing shop at the Lowveld Mall in Hazyview, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, as confirmed by Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi.

The alleged robber entered the clothing shop pretending to be a customer. He selected items from the shelves valued at about R10,000 and proceeded to the till to pay.

However, when his bank card transaction could not go through, he pretended to resolve the issue on his phone. While the cashier was waiting, the suspect produced a firearm and instructed the cashier not to attempt anything. He then fled the scene on foot with the stolen items.

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The cashier immediately screamed for help, prompting the store manager to chase the robber. The teenager was cornered shortly after, with assistance from the mall security guards.

He was found in possession of the robbed items and a firearm, which was later discovered to have its serial numbers filled out and was not loaded. The suspect was taken to Hazyview police station and arrested for business robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest. He highlighted that the majority of robberies in the province are committed using firearms circulating in the wrong hands.

He commended the store manager and security personnel for their bold move in assisting with the arrest, underscoring the importance of cooperation in ensuring public safety.