Thieves dig via a concrete tunnel to steal Sh 2 Million worth alcohol at ShopRite

Photo of the thieves tunnel. PHOTO | BBC

Some South Africa determined thieves tunnelled into a liquor shop in Johannesburg. It happened during the ban on the sale of alcohol inflicted as part of the coronavirus lockdown regulations.

Those constraints have now been somewhat lifted.

The manager of Shoprite Liquor Shop only discovered the robbery on Friday, when she returned to the shop to prepare to re-open on Monday.

The thieves used the electrical and storm-water tunnels beneath the Newtown Junction shopping centre and then broke through the solid concrete floor, leaving a hole, as one South African news site showed.

They then returned a few times to steal whiskey, brandy, gin, cider, vodka and beer with an estimated value of 300,000 South African rands (Ksh1.9 million).