POLICE on the Vaal Rand have vowed to arrest a gang of armed robbers who fled with an undisclosed amount of money after robbing a filling station store and bombing a Standard Bank ATM in Palm Springs, Vaal, yesterday.

Warrant Officer Aubrey Moopeloa said the crimes took place at about 2am.

Moopeloa said the workers at the filling station were confronted by one of the robbers who was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle.

"The man told the employees not to press the panic button and ordered them to go into a toilet, where he locked them in," Moopeloa said.

A few minutes later, the employees said they heard a bang as a car rammed into the shop's glass.

Moopeloa said the gang then placed explosives where the store's two drop safes were built into the wall.

"They also placed explosives in the Standard Bank ATM outside the shop and detonated them."

Moopeloa said the gang fled with the two safes and cash from the ATM.

One worker escaped from the toilet and saw the thugs driving off in a Mercedes Benz and a BMW.

"We are working tirelessly to apprehend the suspects. We are also going to rely on CCTV footage to help us bring them to book," said Moopeloa.