Chaotic scenes unfolded at Springs Mall on Tuesday, after a daring robbery turned deadly.
UPDATE: This article was updated with an official statement from Springs Mall.
Springs Mall robbery: Here are the latest updates
Law enforcement officials converged at the shopping district situated at Selection Park, on Jan Smuts Road, following reports of a violent encounter between armed suspects and the mall’s security.
In a statement, the mall’s marketing director Amorét D’Arrigo confirmed that despite reports of a death in the robbery, “no one was fatally wounded.”
Instead, a member of the mall’s high-risk response team “sustained a small flesh wound (because of shrapnel).”
The incident, D’Arrigo, took place at the atrium near Entrance 2, where two shoppers were ambushed as they made their way into the mall.
“A suspect approached and grabbed the lady’s handbag. As he ran out, he threw the handbag on the floor. Our specialised security unit pursued the suspect into the parking lot, the suspect then shot at the security unit and sped off with two other suspects,” the mall confirmed.
Springs Mall noted that Entrance 2 was cordoned off from public access for approximately three hours, “for officials to investigate an incident that has taken place.”
“Our Security Services are on high alert and will continue to respond to any possible threats or incidents in accordance with the procedures agreed to with the landlord,” D’Arrigo said.
Coincidentally, the Springs Mall robbery occurred a day after the Mall of Africa hosted a similar crime scene.
On Monday evening, after shopping hours, a group of armed robbers were met with firepower from responding law enforcement authorities as they made their way out of the mall at the centre’s parking area.
Consequently, one suspect was shot and killed, while another sustained life-threatening injuries.
“A case has been opened and The Mall of Africa is working closely with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and its local security partners to investigate the incident,” Mall of Africa General Manager Johann Fourie confirmed in a statement.
At this time, it’s unclear if the mall robberies are related.