Police efforts to deal with cash-in-transit heist yield positive results
SEKHUKHUNE – The relentless effort by members of the South African Police Service in Limpopo to deal with the scourge of cash-in-transit heists has yielded positive results when four suspects were arrested soon after committing an armed robbery.
Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, sad G4S security officers were on Tuesday at about 18:30 transporting money along the R71 road between Letsitele and Tarentaal outside Tzaneen when ten suspects travelling in two cars accosted them.
Ngoepe said according to information at police disposal, the suspects suddenly started firing at the wheels of the security vehicle and after it came to a halt they then ordered the three security officers out at gunpoint before blasting it with explosives. They then fled the scene after taking an undisclosed amount of money.
“The police were called to the scene, reacted swiftly and within minutes the vehicles were spotted. A car chase ensued along the Hoedspruit/Lydenburg road. Members of the Farm Watch joined and assisted in blocking the road,” explained Ngoepe.
Ngoepe said one of the vehicles was cornered next to Swadini in Hoedspruit policing area and a shootout.
“Of the five suspects who were in the car, three aged between 43 and 25 were nabbed, one managed to flee and one was fatally wounded. The three suspects and the deceased are from Burgersfort, Bugersdorp outside Tzaneen, Huizeview and Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga,” further said Ngoepe.
Ngoepe added that the other vehicle was cornered next to Strydom Tunnel and after a shootout, the suspects abandoned it and fled on food.
“Police managed to apprehend one of them and the others are still being pursuit. Police recovered a white Mercedes Benz ML, a black Audi, two AK 47 rifles, an R4 rifle, a Betta pistol, two police bullet proof vests, a hand two-way radio, two bags of money and blue lights,” further explained Ngoepe.
He added the arrested suspects were likely to be linked with other cash-in-transit heists committed in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
They will appear before the Tzaneen Magistrates Court soon. More arrests are expected.
