Boy, 5, saves mom during robbery

The three robbers entered the shop around 17:15 on Monday and held up Elsie Knoetze, 31, and Maurice Cohen, the owner, at gun point, Netwerk24 reported on Wednesday.

 

Young Willem van Wyk, 5, hurtled out of the shop at top speed after the robbers entered the store, and ran to find his stepfather, Desmond Knoetze.

 

"He is the hero. He did not even cry," said Willem's mother, Elsie.

 

One of the robbers had stood next to Willem at the counter and pointed his gun at the 83-year-old Cohen. It was at that point that the little boy ran out of the store.

 

A second robber walked around the counter and tied Elsie’s hands together before forcing her under the counter.

 

The third robber closed the shop door.

 

Fled

 

The robbers fled the scene with money, a cellphone and a pistol after Knoetze’s husband, Desmond, arrived at the store.

 

Desmond told Netwerk24 that he immediately ran to the store after Willem found him.

 

The shop’s owner, Cohen, said the incident was the third time he had been the victim of crime.

 

He said he wasn’t angry, because it wouldn’t help. Rather, he wanted to act to ensure the police caught the robbers.

 

According to Cohen, police reacted slowly to the calls, and only arrived at that the shop at 18:45.

 

Constable Joy Xaba told Netwerk24 that a charge of business robbery was being investigated.

 

No arrests have been made.

Author : André Damons, Netwerk24

(File Photo: Gallo Images)