R250 000 reward for jewellery
2006-05-18
THE hunt is still on in Franschhoek for four men who robbed a local jeweller of R4 million worth of jewellery.
Tracey’s Diamonds was held up last Wednesday morning when a milkman made his daily delivery to the shop.
Four armed men dressed in blue overalls stormed the shop when the owner, Evan Tracey, opened the door for the delivery.
They where kept hostage at gunpoint while the men emptied the display cabinets as well as the safe.
Thereafter they locked the two men in the bathroom, before fleeing with the keys of the shop.
A security guard who was always on duty outside the shop, was absent, and his replacement never showed up.
Evan said that he was disappointed in the response time of the police, who only arrived at the jewellery shop 20 minutes after they had been alerted of the robbery.
“What should have taken two minutes, took 20, and that is completely unacceptable.
“About 99% of our stock was stolen, and we are not sure how we are going to be able to do business again,” said Evan.
Local businessmen have responded with anger to the robbery, claiming that crime is on the rise in this rustic little village.
The increase in crime has also been attributed to the Berg River Dam Project, which has caused an influx of strange people to Franschhoek.
A reward of R250 000 has been offered by the insurers of Tracey’s Diamonds for any information leading to the recovery of the jewellery and the arrest of the robbers.
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