During a robbery at a restaurant in Sunninghill, Johannesburg, Luxury watches including Rolex and TAG Heuer were stolen.
Istanbul Kebab owner, Burhan Demirtas narrated that around midday, a group of his regular customers arrived at the restaurant to have a meal and smoke shisha.
They were sitting close to the road in the smoking area.
Around 2pm, two men jumped over the railing into the restaurant.
“I was close to them [customers] by the till. When the guys jumped over into the restaurant, I thought they were joking and were friends because normally it’s very safe and secure at the restaurant.
“There were also many cars parked outside and people walking up and down.”
Demirtas was shocked when the two men pulled out firearms and demanded watches.
According to him, it all happened very fast.
“There were bags and laptops on the table but they just wanted the watches [and phones].
“They took the watches and, as they took phones from on top of the table, a gunshot went off by accident.
The robbers fled the restaurant with four luxury watches and two cellphones.
Demirtas indicated that the robbers fled in a silver BMW which was parked at a nearby petrol station.
He appealed to the government to urgently intervene in the high rate of crime in the country, especially restaurants robberies.
No comment from the Gauteng police yet.