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Would-be groom bust in pizza shop raid

OFF TO JAIL: Three of the alleged armed robbers under arrest after they held up the Scooters Pizza shop in southern Johannesburg yesterday morning. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE. 20/09/2009. © Sowetan.
OFF TO JAIL: Three of the alleged armed robbers under arrest after they held up the Scooters Pizza shop in southern Johannesburg yesterday morning. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE. 20/09/2009. © Sowetan.

THE armed gang that targeted the Scooter Pizza shop in southern Johannesburg yesterday morning will now spend the festive season behind bars - and one of them won't be walking down the aisle with his would-be bride next Sunday.

The robbers hit just after the Rosettenville shop opened for business at 10am.

"They must have been hungry or they received the wrong information because there is never much money on a Sunday morning," shop manager Jerry Dube said.

Eight gun-totting thugs entered the Main Street franchise demanding money. Onlookers said they knew two of the suspects.

"We know Rasta. We buy DVDs from him," a local resident said.

Another suspect, community members said, was to marry a woman who works at the pizza shop next Sunday. They said the bride-to-be had already left for KwaZulu-Natal to prepare for the wedding.

Dube confirmed that an employee had left for Kwa-Zulu-Natal. He, however, was prevented from commenting on her link to the gang member after the police stepped in, barring him from talking to the media.

"About eight men came into the shop just as we opened and pointed at me and my staff with guns. They wanted money but ended up taking my wallet that didn't have any cash, cellphones and a couple of two-litre soft drinks. There was about R1000 in the shop," Dube said.

"As they ran out, I gave chase. Luckily there were Metro officers outside the shop and I told them the men had just robbed us."

Four suspects fled on foot, while another four sped off in a grey Toyota Corolla.

"As police gave chase, the suspects opened fire but the officers did not shoot back as there were people in the street," Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said.

"Police arrested two in the car and the other two a block away. The ones on foot are still at large but we have been informed where we can find them."

One firearm with filed-off serial numbers was recovered. The four suspects are expected in court today.

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