Robbers steal R800k perly
TARGETED: State abalone stores hit by brazen skelms TARGETED: State abalone stores hit by brazen skelms
A government abalone storage facility has been hit again by brazen robbers and questions have been raised over security measures.
This is the third armed robbery at the facility in less than a year.
The first incident took place on 15 May when five armed robbers overpowered security guards.
They took their guns before making off with an undisclosed amount of abalone.
In August, the facility was hit by six armed suspects.
They robbed security guards of their cellphones and firearms before making off with dried abalone.
In the most recent incident, on 21 December in Paarden Eiland, about 400kg of abalone with a street value of around R800 000 was stolen and the security officers were tied up.
The spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Khaye Nkwanyana, told the Weekend Argus “the matter regarding robberies has been handed over to the police and Hawks”.
However, Hawks provincial spokesman, Philani Nkwalase, said the unit was not investigating the matter as it falls under the mandate of the SAPS.