2 die while robbing Catholic Church

The robbers held the priest at gunpoint and then got into a shoot-out with police

Police shot dead two men when they tried to rob a church in Pinetown, a SAPS spokesman said on Monday.    

Police received a tip-off on Sunday that there was a robbery planned at the Roman Catholic church, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge said.

Officers were sent to the church.

"They [police] noticed three suspects walking into the church grounds while the service was going on. A fourth suspect drove the getaway car onto the premises," Mdunge said.

"When church ended at 6pm and the congregants were leaving, the suspects followed the priest, who had the collection money, to his office."

The robbers held the priest at gunpoint.

The police confronted them but they refused to co-operate, he said.

The men shot at police and police fired back "with no hesitation".

"Two of the suspects were fatally wounded and a third suspect had dog bites on his hand and wrist from police dogs.

"The fourth suspect fled the scene, police are still looking for him," he said.

Two firearms, a 9mm pistol and a revolver pistol, were recovered.

A case of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances had been opened.

An inquest docket had also been opened for the two men who were killed by the police, Mdunge said.