Suspects blow up ATM at garage
During the early hours of Thursday, five armed men bombed an ATM at the Gulfstream Garage in Eastvale.
The thieves wore balaclavas and entered the petrol station while three workers were at work.
According to the Springs SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Themba Tshabalala, the cashier was at the till, and the security guard and a petrol attendant sat inside the butchery shop.
“The cashier noticed a man pointing a firearm at her through the small glass window who demanded that she open the door,” said Tshabalala.
“The man forcefully broke the main sliding door, and then four heavily armed men entered the premises.”
Tshabalala said the thieves ordered the cashier to open the till before robbing them of their belongings.
“They were then instructed to go outside,” he said.
The workers reported multiple explosions and gunshots. After the bombing, the thieves emptied two ATMs and a drop-safe, making off with an undisclosed sum of money.
Tshabalala said the criminals fled on foot in the direction of Skoonplaas. They stole two cellphones worth R9 600 from the petrol attendants. There have been no arrests and no reports of fatalities.