Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

Armed robbers abandoned four luxury cars they had hijacked in a raid on a luxury hotel on Monday and fled for their lives from police 200km awayl.

The nine suspects allegedly overpowered the receptionist at the Ghost Inn Hotel in Mkuze and forced her at gunpoint to hand over the keys for its two vehicles.

Police spokesman Jay Naicker said the gang then forced the receptionist to take them to the rooms of guests with vehicles parked in the lot. The surprised guests were also threatened at gunpoint and the gunmen compelled them to hand over their keys, cellphones and cash.

Naicker said the men fled in two Toyota Landcruisers belonging to the hotel, and a VW Caravelle and a Landrover Freelander belonging to guests.

"Police were notified and a massive search for the vehicles was launched," he said.

Police spotted the speeding convoy almost 200km south of Mkuze at Richards Bay.

"Realising that they were being chased by police, the suspects abandoned the vehicles and fled into the bushes," he said.

No one has yet been arrested but police are continuing their investigations.