Durban — Three armed suspects are on the run after robbing churchgoers and fleeing in a vehicle they stole in the Newlands West area on Wednesday evening.
KZN VIP spokesperson Gareth Naidoo said that there was an armed robbery and theft at a church in the Newlands West area.
Naidoo said that in the evening after a prayer service was completed, three male suspects armed with firearms jumped over the church fence in Oakdale and held up the victims.
“Suspects stole an undisclosed amount of valuables before fleeing in a white Toyota Quest with Reg. ND617560 which they stole from the church also,” Naidoo said.
He said that no injuries were reported.
Naidoo added that police and other services also attended the scene.
Earlier, an elderly couple performing a morning prayer was robbed by six armed suspects at their home in Trenance Park, Verulam.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said their officers arrived at the scene at 7.26am and they met the couple, aged 61 and 59.
They explained that they were conducting their morning prayer in the yard when a white VW Polo, registration unknown, stopped at their gate.
“Six unknown males alighted from the vehicle and derailed the driveway gate. The robbers confronted the couple and held them at gunpoint while they ransacked the residence in search of valuables. They stole cash, jewellery, a PlayStation, a Samsung TV and a telephone,” Balram said.
He said that pupils from a local school called out for assistance after they noticed the robbery in progress.
“Their screams alerted neighbours,” Balram said.
He said the robbers loaded the stolen goods into their getaway vehicle and sped off in an unknown direction.
Balram added that the couple was not injured.
Police had not commented on both incidents by the time of publication.
Daily News