Two suspects wanted for a break-in at Totalsports in Eikestad Mall earlier this month are still on the loose. This is according to Sgt Jason Rhoda, head of social crime prevention at Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS).
The suspects shattered the store’s glass front door with a brick and broke in at approximately 03:00 on 7 March, said Ettienne Brown, manager of Totalsports Eikestad. The break-in set off the store’s alarm, alerting Eikestad Mall security to the incident, who then called SAPS for backup.
Totalsports in Eikestad Mall was robbed in the early hours of the morning on 7 March, said Ettienne Brown, manager of Totalsports in Eikestad Mall. The suspects used a brick to shatter the front door and break into the store. PHOTO: Téa Bell
SAPS chased after the suspects, who fled the crime scene in a vehicle shortly after the store’s alarm was activated, stated Rhoda. The suspects got into a car accident along Kuils River Road but “managed to get away on foot” before SAPS reached the accident site, according to Rhoda.
Despite the suspects’ escape, Brown noted that “[Totalsports] got most of [their] stock back”, as SAPS reclaimed stolen items that were left in the vehicle.
According to Capt Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for Stellenbosch SAPS, the case is still under investigation and the suspects have not yet been identified as of 25 March.
The third incident since January
“The [Eikestad Mall] team are working closely with the South African Police Services and [their] local security partners to investigate the [Totalsports] incident,” stated Andrew Grundlingh, head of Eikestad Mall’s brand marketing and social media, in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
“The safety and security of our shoppers, tenants, and our centre staff remains our main priority. We will update relevant stakeholders as appropriate,” added Grundlingh.
The Totalsports break-in comes after two break-ins that occurred earlier this year at Eikestad Mall’s Clicks and Sportscene stores.
According to Dhevan Pillay, Clicks’ chief store operations officer, the Clicks in Eikestad Mall was robbed on 13 January in the early hours of the morning. PHOTO: Téa Bell
Dhevan Pillay, Clicks’ chief store operations officer, told MatieMedia via email correspondence that a robbery took place on 13 January at the store’s Eikestad Mall branch.
“SAPS was notified immediately after the incident occurred and attended to the scene,” said Pillay, who added that, “fortunately, no one was hurt”.
According to Rhoda, SAPS made no arrests following the Clicks robbery.
Rhoda also confirmed that a robbery took place at Sportscene in Eikestad Mall on 26 January at 3:30.
“Suspects forced the shop’s door open and took items to a red bakkie parked outside the shop,” stated Rhoda. No arrests were made following the incident. “When SAPS arrived on the scene, the suspects were gone already,” Rhoda explained.
Two suspects who robbed the Totalsports in Eikestad Mall earlier this month got into a car accident along Kuils River Road, abandoned their vehicle, and fled the scene on foot, Sgt Jason Rhoda of the Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS) told MatieMedia. According to Rhoda, SAPS reclaimed the stolen stock from the suspects’ vehicle [along the Kuils River Road]. PHOTO: Téa Bell