{"id":6570,"date":"2025-07-29T16:30:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hconline.co.za\/?p=5392"},"modified":"2025-07-29T16:30:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:30:46","slug":"kriel-residents-in-fear-after-four-armed-men-rob-a-popular-local-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.highveldchronicle.co.za\/wp64\/kriel-residents-in-fear-after-four-armed-men-rob-a-popular-local-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Kriel residents in fear after four armed men rob a popular local business\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Kriel<\/strong>&#8211; The small town of Kriel is still reeling after a brazen robbery incident that happened on Monday at a popular local business near the main taxi rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This incident has left residents shaken, businesses on edge, and police under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to eyewitnesses, a group of four armed men stormed the premises shortly after 10 o\u2019clock in the morning. They forced staff and customers to the ground, demanding cash and valuables. Shots were fired into the air to intimidate, but no injuries were reported. The suspects fled the scene in a white Toyota Quantum with no number plates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Police arrived within minutes, but by then, the suspects had escaped. A manhunt is underway and the Kriel Police Station has offered a R20,000 reward for any information leading to arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re scared. They came in like they owned the town,\u201d said Mandla Khoza, a shop employee who was inside during the robbery. \u201cNow we just don\u2019t feel safe anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Residents say crime has been rising in Kriel, but this robbery has struck a deeper nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just about the money \u2014 it\u2019s about the fear that now lives with us,\u201d said Nomsa Ngwenya, a local teacher. \u201cPeople are starting to close their shops early. Some are afraid to go into town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents have voiced concerns about their children\u2019s safety, especially after recent cases of missing children in the surrounding areas, adding to the anxiety gripping the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kriel SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Thabiso Molefe, said police are following leads and working with provincial crime intelligence to track the suspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe urge the community to stay calm and report any suspicious activity. We will not rest until these criminals are brought to justice,\u201d Molefe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Molefe added that&nbsp; SAPS has increased patrols around business areas and is planning a public safety meeting with community stakeholders on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local business owners are now calling for CCTV cameras, better lighting, and quicker police response. \u201cWe need to work together \u2014 police, businesses, and community members. Kriel is our home. We cannot let crime rule it,\u201d said Linda Mahlangu, a local salon owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the fear, some residents say the incident has strengthened their resolve. \u201cIf anything, this has reminded us how important it is to stand together,\u201d said pastor Jabu Dlamini, who is organising a community prayer vigil on Sunday. \u201cKriel is not broken. We are just being tested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kriel&#8211; The small town of Kriel is still reeling after a brazen robbery incident that happened on Monday at a popular local business near the main taxi rank. This incident has left residents shaken, businesses on edge, and police under pressure. According to eyewitnesses, a group of four armed men stormed the premises shortly after&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,31,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tie-business","category-tie-crime","category-tie-news-style"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Kriel residents in fear after four armed men rob a popular local business\u00a0 - Highveld Chronicle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.highveldchronicle.co.za\/wp64\/kriel-residents-in-fear-after-four-armed-men-rob-a-popular-local-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kriel residents in fear after four armed men rob a popular local business\u00a0 - Highveld Chronicle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kriel&#8211; The small town of Kriel is still reeling after a brazen robbery incident that happened on Monday at a popular local business near the main taxi rank. This incident has left residents shaken, businesses on edge, and police under pressure. 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