Two people were shot and wounded as armed gangs struck at homes in Johannesburg and Heidelberg on Wednesday night, Gauteng police said.

Two people were shot and wounded as armed gangs struck at homes in Johannesburg and Heidelberg on Wednesday night, Gauteng police said.

In Heidelberg a robber was shot and wounded when police responded swiftly to a call, said Captain Julia Claassen.

Earlier armed men had entered a home in Leo Street where they tied up the family and robbed them of jewellery, a television set and other appliances.

Police were alerted and two constables arrived on the scene within minutes.

The robbers, on their way out of the house, opened fire on the police van.

The officers returned fire and wounded one of the gang. The rest of the robbers fled in several vehicles, but police arrested the wounded man.

Meanwhile, in Parkview, Johannesburg, on Wednesday night, a man was shot when he tried to help a couple being held up in their garage.

The couple was parking their car at home in Sabie Road when they were accosted by two men, one armed with a 9mm pistol. When the woman screamed, the gardener tried to intervene.

The robbers shot him in the leg and fled from the scene. No further arrests have been made. - Sapa