MASERU — Four men, including two security guards, have been arrested after they allegedly robbed a local supermarket of M15 000 in cash at gunpoint.
Police spokesman Masupha Masupha said the four were arrested last Monday, only a day after they robbed the supermarket, following a tip-off.
“Among the robbers who were arrested was a security guard who guards the supermarket,” Masupha said.
“The suspects stole M15 000, three DVDs and six cell phones from customers and from owners of the supermarket.”
Masupha said the four men are from Roma and Ts’enola and are aged between 20 and 33.
He said the robbers stormed the supermarket last Sunday and stabbed the two supermarket owners.
The two suffered minor injuries and were treated and discharged from Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru.
“Police found a pump action gun, .38 special and 7.65 and 9mm guns with two bullets,” Masupha said.
He said one of the suspects was wanted in connection with a previous case of armed robbery while another was also a security guard in a nearby supermarket.
“We as police officers expect security guards to help us prevent crime not to be involved in it,” Masupha said.
In a separate incident, two men were seriously assaulted in Mohale’s Hoek last Sunday for attempting to steal a gun from a security guard.
Masupha said the men, aged 18 and 28, were caught attempting to steal a gun at a supermarket owned by a Chinese national.
“The two armed robbers pointed a gun at the security guard and ordered him to hand over his gun,” Masupha said.
The villagers however managed to catch the two robbers and beat them thoroughly.
“The two robbers were seriously injured and were treated in hospital,” he said.
Masupha advised villagers not to take the law into their own hands and instead report the crimes to the police.
“They should not take the law into their own hands but should wait for the law to take its course,” he said.
Police investigations were continuing.
In Maseru, a 27-year-old man was arrested last week for assaulting a police officer at Pitso Ground police post.
Masupha said the man was accompanied by a friend who is still at large.
“The man together with his friend pointed a gun at the police officer and ordered him to hand over his gun,” Masupha said
“The officer managed to overpower the two men. The other man fled the scene after realising that his friend had been overpowered,” he said.
