Two betting agencies in Port Elizabeth were robbed 40 minutes apart, allegedly by the same gang, on Monday morning.
Police confirmed the robberies at Marshalls World of Sport agencies are believed to be linked to the same gang.
In total, the suspects are believed to have made off with about R80,000.
The first targeted was the Marshalls World of Sport in the Rochelle Centre in Ring Road, across from the Greenacres Shopping Centre.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the robbery happened at 8.20am, minutes after staff had opened the agency.
“The men were sitting outside. However, as it is a busy street across from a major shopping centre, nobody thought anything of it.
“Once the staff were inside, the three men ran inside. Two of them pulled out firearms and threatened all seven staff members,” she said.
“The supervisor was forced to unlock the safe and hand over the money.”
Naidu said the robbers fled on foot with the money.
“It is suspected that a getaway car was parked somewhere near the shopping centre,” she said.
By 9am, Marshalls World of Sport in the Njoli Shopping Centre on the corner of Mancam and Meke streets in Kwazakhele was also robbed.
Police spokesperson Captain André Beetge said the Njoli robbery happened at about 9am and four armed men were involved.
“Three entered the store while another suspect stood outside. The three inside forced three staff members to hand over their cellphones and demanded money from the tellers.
“The office safe was also opened and an undisclosed amount of cash taken,” he said.
Like the first robbery, the getaway vehicle was parked nearby.
“No-one saw the vehicle involved. However, we suspect the car was [parked] in a side street.”
Beetge confirmed that preliminary investigation showed the same suspects were involved in both robberies.
Marshalls World of Sport Eastern Cape regional head Greg Murrell could not be reached for comment.
Two cases of business robbery are under investigation.