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Shoppers hide in walk-in fridge
24/07/2007 08:14  - (SA)  

Nerissa Govender and Sphumelele Mngoma

Durban - Three security guards and one bystander were shot during a cash-in-transit heist at the Oasis One-stop, near Cato Ridge on Monday.

Some bystanders who were caught in the crossfire even resorted to diving for cover into walk-in fridges inside the 24-hour shop.

Sources told The Witness that a group of about nine men were involved in the heist.

It is believed that no money was stolen during the heist. Sources said SVB guards were filling money into an ATM machine when the robbers started firing at them.

Guard shot twice

The robbers then fled in a Mercedes, which was later spotted travelling towards the Hammarsdale and Mpumalanga areas. The incident occurred at about 12:00.

Late on Monday, the getaway vehicle was recovered by police after it was found abandoned near Mpumalanga. It is believed the group fled in another vehicle. No arrests were made.

A man who arrived at the scene minutes after the shooting occurred described bodies lying "all over the place.

It was difficult to see what was going on, through the crowd of people".

A security guard who was shot four times, was airlifted by Netcare 911 to St Annes hospital. The guard was shot twice in the stomach, and once in the right arm and foot, and believed to be in a critical condition.

Two other guards were also shot during the heist, one of whom was transported by Netcare 911 to hospital.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said a doctor was summoned to the scene to assist in stabilising the one critically injured guard.

Omega security guard Cynthia Mbili, who was standing guard at the BP Express shop, said that when she heard gunshots, which sounded like "eight machine guns going at the same time," people ran for cover, even hiding in walk-in fridges in stores.

"I had to rip my uniform off for safety because I didn't know who they were running from," Mbili said, adding that she called the Hammersdale SAPS five minutes after the incident occurred.

Within four minutes the police had arrived. Many onlookers refused to comment while many employees were not allowed to comment.