Shopkeeper pistol-whipped as armed robbers steal cash and cigarettes

A suspect has been arrested in Bohlokong, Free State, following an armed robbery in which a businessman was assaulted and robbed of cash and cigarettes.

A suspected armed robber has been arrested after a businessman was struck on the head with a firearm during a robbery at his shop in Bohlokong, with police recovering stolen cigarettes, cash and an unlicensed pistol loaded with seven rounds of ammunition.

The suspect was arrested following a joint operation by Bohlokong police and the Bethlehem Public Order Policing (POP) Unit after the robbery at Extension 2 on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said the incident occurred at approximately 6:45pm when two masked men entered a shop belonging to a 34-year-old foreign national businessman.

According to Mophiring, the businessman was attending to customers when the suspects entered the premises and launched their attack.

"It is alleged that a 34-year-old foreign national businessman was attending to customers at his shop when two unidentified men wearing face masks entered the premises," Mophiring said.

One of the suspects allegedly positioned himself at the entrance and shut the door, while his accomplice pulled out a firearm and struck the businessman on the back of his head, leaving him with an open wound.

"The suspects allegedly demanded cash kept inside the till behind the counter and took 76 packets of cigarettes before fleeing the scene on foot," Mophiring said.

Following preliminary investigations, members of the Bethlehem POP Unit received information about the suspected robbers' whereabouts and immediately followed up on the lead.

During the operation, officers spotted four suspects who allegedly fled in different directions after noticing the police.

"One suspect, who was carrying a bag and a blue jacket, was pursued and apprehended," Mophiring said.

A subsequent search of the bag led to the recovery of property believed to have been stolen during the robbery, along with a firearm and ammunition.

"Upon searching the bag, police recovered 76 packets of cigarettes, cash, a black-and-silver 9mm pistol bearing a serial number, and seven live rounds of ammunition," Mophiring said.

The recovery of the 76 cigarette packets corresponds with the quantity reportedly stolen from the business.