The Police have launched a manhunt for a jewellery gang who shot and killed metro police officer last year in a mall at Wonderpark shopping centre, north of Pretoria, in July last year.
Police spokesman, Warrant Officer van der Bergh have confirmed that police have launched the manhunt for the suspects. “Police have released CCTV images to the public. Witnesses can call me at 012 353 5649 with any information using Pretoria North as the reference,” said van der Bergh.
The police have released images of the gang in the hope that witnesses will come forward with information as well as to warn the community of these alleged perpetrators.
The Police said the gang had been linked to other business robberies in and around the area since the heist. While fleeing, they spotted a traffic officer near the entrance and shot him in the chest at point blank range with a pistol. The officer, identified as Sergeant Piet von Bekkum, died in the Akasia clinic later that day despite the medical staff’s best efforts to save him.
It is believed that five to seven armed men stormed into the centre and went straight to the jewellery shop. They pointed guns at the staff and then started grabbing jewellery and money before rushing out.
The gang of armed robbers escaped with money and jewellery to the value of R500 000 and have not been caught since. They fled in two Nissan Hardbody vehicles.
