Armed robbers strike twice, man suffers heart attack

PALMVIEW – Two joggers & the driver of broken down vehicle were robbed by three armed men between Ottawa & Palmview at 09:02 on Wednesday morning. A 56-year-old male suffered a heart attack when he arrived on scene.

Reaction Unit South Africa received calls of the robbery & Reaction Officers were despatched to the R102 between the Ottawa & Palmview robots. On route the Controller at the Phoenix Operations Center updated Officers that an unknown person had suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics were expedited to the scene. Upon arrival Paramedics stabilised an adult male seated in the back seat of a white Izuzu bakkie. He was transported to a local hospital.

When Reaction Officers interviewed the complainants, it was established that three men were armed with a 9mm pistol, a large knife & a metal pipe had accosted and robbed them of valuables on the southbound lane. During the robbery the suspects noticed a blue bakkie on the northbound lane and immediately attacked & robbed the driver of his mobile phone & wallet.

Minutes later a white Izuzu bakkie and its occupants arrived on scene to help repair the blue bakkie that suffered a mechanical failure. When one of the occupants realised that a robbery had occurred, he suffered a heart attack.

The joggers informed Reaction Officers that they were training for the 2024 Comrades Marathon & believed they were being targeted for their expensive takkies and specialised sport watches. One suspect was arrested while the search for the other two continues.