WATCH | Robbers on the run after jewellery store heist at Durban mall

Video footage has emerged of an armed gang making off with their loot after holding up and robbing a jewellery store in the Gateway shopping centre in Umhlanga, north of Durban, on Friday.

Private armed response security company Marshall Security said it received reports of a robbery in progress at 8.35am.

“Marshall Security received multiple panics from clients in Gateway mall stating there was a robbery in progress at a jewellery store and shots had been fired.

“Upon arrival of our armed response officers and special operations team, it was established an unknown number of suspects gained entry by breaking through the glass doors and windows using sledge hammers.”

A gang of armed men held up and robbed a jewellery store at #Gateway shopping centre in uMhlanga on Friday morning. Police said the men made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery. They remain at large @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/VFq8ehSQQD

The getaway vehicle was recovered a short while after the robbery.

“A sky-blue Toyota Corolla was used in the robbery and was circulated to all our units. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was found abandoned by Marshall Security and Tracker SA on the M25. Sledge hammers used in the armed robbery were found in the vehicle. Unfortunately the suspects remain at large.”

Police spokesperson Col Thembeka Mbele said the robbers broke the glass door and entered the jewellery store before making off with undisclosed amounts of cash and jewellery.

“They fled the scene in their getaway vehicle, which was later found abandoned on the M25 in the Greenwood Park area. No shots were fired and no injuries have been reported. A case of robbery was opened at Durban North police station for investigation,” she said.

Last year, TimesLIVE eported a Durban couple who pulled off a multimillion-rand jewellery heist in 2013, also at the Gateway mall, were arrested in East London.

By Orrin Singh -TimesLIVE