Hammer gang hits La Lucia, Overport
DURBAN – Gangs of men armed with hammers struck again this morning, hitting three stores inside two Durban shopping malls.
At the La Lucia Mall, the gang apparently smashed the glass door of the MTN outlet. It is alleged that nothing was taken, however, because the robbers could not open the safe containing electronic devices. The men then fled. The store was still closed at the time of publication, with Durban North police at the scene.
At the Atrium shopping centre in Overport, the gang smashed the windows of the Cell C and Telkom stores on the first floor. Nothing was taken from either store, said sources, apparently because guards responded quickly.
The stores were open for business this morning. Berea police are investigating.
This morning’s incidents follow break-ins at the Tops bottle store in Kloof Village Mall and Domino’s Pizza outlet in Glenwood by gangs which smashed their way into the premises yesterday morning.
The gangs’ modus operandi has been to use hammers to smash the windows and display cases and grab what they can.
Some of the robberies occurred during business hours while most have occurred before dawn.
In the past month, such gangs have targeted malls including Gateway, Musgrave, Southway, Westwood, Watercrest, Galleria, The Pavilion, Pinecrest Centre and in Scottburgh.
Police arrested a group responsible for a break-in at Southway Mall a few weeks ago.