Suspects on the run after yet another cash heist

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By Everson Luhanga

Police are on the hunt for a gang of suspects involved in the bombing of a cash transport vehicle in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, on Wednesday morning.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said that police have launched a manhunt to arrest a group of suspects linked to a cash-in-transit heist that occurred near the Mandela Sports Complex in Hammanskraal at around 7.45am.

Van Wyk said a preliminary report indicated that the driver of the cash van and two crew members were travelling along Hamman Road in Hammanskraal after exiting the N1 freeway when they were intercepted by a group of armed suspects who rammed into the van with a silver Mercedes-Benz C180.

“It is alleged that the suspects fired gunshots at the guards and then blew up the cash van before they fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a white Ford Ranger,” said Van Wyk.

ENCA reports that almost 250 cash-in-transit robberies took place from January to October last year — a 30% increase from the same period the year before.

The Cash-In Transit Association of SA is concerned about the countrywide phenomenon.

On 2 February, Gauteng police launched a manhunt to arrest a group of suspects linked to a cash-in-transit heist on the Golden Highway, south of Johannesburg.

And on 3 February, KwaZulu-Natal police were searching for at least seven suspects following a cash-in-transit robbery along the R34 between Ulundi and Melmoth.

KZN provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said the suspects were reportedly driving in two vehicles.

“They allegedly fired shots towards the cash delivery truck and forced it to stop,” he said. “Two security guards sustained injuries and their firearms were stolen. 

“The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. One of the suspects’ vehicles was found abandoned at Mandeva in the Mpungamhlophe policing precinct.”

The police are not giving up the fight against the heist gangs. Just two weeks ago, they foiled a planned cash-in-transit heist in Dobsonville, Soweto, and recovered three vehicles that were to be used during the heist as well as an R5 and three AK47 assault rifles. Two suspects were killed during the operation.

National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said people must not find themselves on the wrong side of the law by helping themselves to money lying around after a cash-in-transit heist or ATM bombing, or interfere in any way with active crime scenes.

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