News / Africa
3 men in security uniforms steal R23 million in gems
12 Apr 2012 at 06:06hrs | Views
Johannesburg - A South African business in Bedfordview has been robbed of R23 million worth of precious stones and diamonds by three men dressed in ADT security uniforms, according to a newspaper report on Thursday.
The robbery took place after staff at AA Diamonds in the Wall of China office block had left on Good Friday around 14:00, owner Shibne Mohammed told The Star newspaper.
"They made it look easy," said Mohammed.
According to the report, three men in an ADT-marked vehicle gained access to the area around 20:30.
Two guards had opened the gate for them believing they were legitimate guards. One of the guards had recognised one of the robbers as an ADT employee, Mohammed said.
The robbers tied up the guards and pulled them into the basement.
They then forced their way into the company's offices by breaking through a gate and two doors, dismantling the alarm, removing hard drives from the surveillance cameras and cutting through a one-ton, steel-reinforced safe.
"They had between six and eight hours and some heavy grinding machine, they took their time," said Mohammed.
"They [ADT] are supposedly a state-of-the-art security company, but their own people robbed us," he claimed.
The security company's regional managing director, Roy Rawlins, told the newspaper the matter was being investigated.
Police were also looking into the possibility that the men were ADT guard impersonators.
The robbery took place after staff at AA Diamonds in the Wall of China office block had left on Good Friday around 14:00, owner Shibne Mohammed told The Star newspaper.
"They made it look easy," said Mohammed.
According to the report, three men in an ADT-marked vehicle gained access to the area around 20:30.
Two guards had opened the gate for them believing they were legitimate guards. One of the guards had recognised one of the robbers as an ADT employee, Mohammed said.
They then forced their way into the company's offices by breaking through a gate and two doors, dismantling the alarm, removing hard drives from the surveillance cameras and cutting through a one-ton, steel-reinforced safe.
"They had between six and eight hours and some heavy grinding machine, they took their time," said Mohammed.
"They [ADT] are supposedly a state-of-the-art security company, but their own people robbed us," he claimed.
The security company's regional managing director, Roy Rawlins, told the newspaper the matter was being investigated.
Police were also looking into the possibility that the men were ADT guard impersonators.
Source - Sapa
