Police in Tongaat are continuing their search for eight men who carried out a daring and well-coordinated robbery at a jewellery store on Thursday, completing the crime in less than two minutes before fleeing the scene.
According to Prem Balram, spokesperson for the private security company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the suspects appeared to have planned the robbery carefully. He said the men were seen observing the store for some time before making their move.
Balram explained that the robbery began the moment a customer entered the shop. As soon as the slam lock gate was opened, the first suspect rushed inside, setting off a rapid chain of events that left little time for anyone to react. CCTV footage from inside the store shows one of the suspects holding the gate open while pointing a firearm at a man believed to be a customer. At the same time, a staff member behind the counter can be seen raising his hands in surrender as four other suspects stormed into the store.
The footage captures the speed and aggression with which the robbery unfolded. One of the men jumped over the jewellery display cabinet, while others began smashing the glass cabinets. Jewellery was quickly removed and stuffed into bags as the suspects moved from one display to the next. Despite the violent nature of the robbery, the customer and two staff members inside the store were not injured.
In one moment caught on camera, a suspect is seen trying to open a display cabinet using his hands. When he failed, he kicked the glass and briefly walked away. A few seconds later, another suspect approached the same cabinet, smashed the glass successfully and grabbed what he could from inside before retreating.
Balram said RUSA responded immediately after receiving reports of a robbery in progress. However, by the time officers arrived at the scene, the suspects had already fled. “Upon arrival, it was confirmed that the suspects had already fled the scene in two vehicles, a grey Toyota Rumion or Suzuki Ertiga,” he said. He confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident.
Tongaat SAPS has opened a case of business robbery and is leading the investigation. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza confirmed that an undisclosed amount of jewellery was stolen. He said that at this stage, no arrests have been made and no stolen items have been recovered.
As police continue to investigate, community leaders have weighed in on what the incident means for local businesses and residents. Aidan David, chairperson of the eThekwini District Police Board, said the video footage of the robbery should serve as a wake-up call for both the community and business owners.
David said the way the suspects operated was not unique to this incident and mirrored methods commonly used in house robberies. However, he pointed out that such crimes had been reduced in certain areas due to the presence of Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures working closely with local police and private security companies.
He stressed that stronger partnerships could make a real difference in preventing crimes of this nature. “If businesses can come onboard and support the CPF structures, then they will get additional support. The policing forums are made up of volunteers and are non-profit organisations,” he said.
David urged business owners not to view CPFs as something separate from their own security needs, but rather as an essential partner. “It is sad that when we go to a business for assistance, the doors are closed, but when we have incidents of this nature, everyone wants to ask about the CPF presence. They need to become participants rather than complainants,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of visibility on the ground, noting that CPFs often provide an extra layer of safety in areas where police resources are stretched. “Our visibility and numbers on the streets are far greater than those of the SAPS. Let us learn from this robbery and build a partnership,” David said.
The Tongaat jewellery store robbery has once again raised concerns about organised criminal activity targeting businesses, particularly those dealing in high-value items. The speed at which the suspects executed the robbery, their use of firearms, and their quick escape suggest a level of planning that investigators will now have to unpack.
For now, police are appealing to anyone who may have information about the suspects or the vehicles used in the getaway to come forward. As the investigation continues, both law enforcement and community leaders are calling for stronger cooperation between businesses, private security, and CPF structures to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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