A manhunt is underway for a group of armed suspects who were caught on video threatening eThekwini metro police officers moments after allegedly robbing a courier vehicle at a Pinetown mall on Monday.
The video, widely circulated on social media, shows metro police officers approaching the suspects as they load stolen parcels into a getaway vehicle. Two of the robbers then walk toward the police vehicle and point their guns at the officers, forcing them to retreat. Metro police say the officers were outnumbered and that engaging the suspects could have led to a deadly confrontation. Backup was called immediately after the incident.
It is believed the suspects ambushed employees of a courier company while they were delivering parcels, disarming the security guard escorting the vehicle.
“Reports indicate that employees of a courier company were delivering parcels at the mall when they were ambushed by a group of armed suspects who demanded the parcels, disarming the escorting security guard in the process. The suspects fled the scene in a white sedan,” said KZN SAPS spokesperson Robert Netshiunda.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the search intensifies.