Jewellery store hit by robbers
2006-05-11
A FRANSCHHOEK jeweller found himself facing four armed robbers yesterday, and could do nothing to prevent the men walking out of his store with jewellery worth millions of rands.
Evan Tracey was opening the door to Tracey’s Diamonds at 50 Huguenot Street early yesterday morning when a milk delivery man arrived.
He was accepting the delivery when he looked up into the gun barrels. The attackers overpowered both Tracey and Headman Mhali.
Their hands bound, Mhali was pinned to the floor, while Tracey was forced into the bathroom after the robbers had snatched the keys to the safes where jewellery is stored overnight.
The robbers collected valuable tanzanite, set-up jewellery, loose diamonds as well as diamond pendants, ear-rings and diamond rings.
Kruger Rands were also stolen, as well as pearl necklaces, including pieces whith South Sea pearls.
The stones were mainly set in platinum and white gold, with the diamond earrings being one and two carat each.
The robbers disappeared 15 minutes after arriving at the jewellery store, taking the keys to the premises with them.
Tracey managed to untie himself shortly afterwards. He summoned the police, and the alert was radioed to law enforcers in neighbouring towns.
Both Tracey and Mhali suffered from shock.
Tracey believes the robbers must have kept the store under surveillance.
The robbery was executed precisely between the time when the door was unlocked for a delivery, and the official opening time when staff would arrive.
By late yesterday no eye-witnesses of the robbery or the arrival and escape of the robbers, had yet been found.
Information that could assist in the investigation can be given to Insp Jaco van der Bank at 876-8061.
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