What to do when witnessing a cash-in-transit robbery

As the festive season approaches, Arrive Alive has offered road users some tips to help keep them safe if they should you find themselves in a cash-in-transit crime.

Due to the severity of the modus operandi that is used for a cash-in-transit incident, it can be dangerous to stop to look at what is going on or take video footage with a cell phone. 

Arrive Alive’s safety tips:

• Do not place yourself in danger of either being shot in the crossfire that enviably occurs or being accosted by one of the criminals who may be hiding in close proximity to you and may react irrationally to you taking a video.
• When observing a cash-in-transit attack, try and put as much distance between your vehicle and the crime scene. Do not exit your vehicle and if possible, turn your vehicle around and drive away.
• If you cannot move away from the crime scene, lower yourself behind the dashboard so that you are shielded by more metal in case shots are fired.
• The sensible thing to do would be to try and vacate the area if possible without jeopardising oneself or others in the process.
• Personal safety first, if you cannot leave the area remain calm.
• During cash-in-transit robberies and cash-in-transit bombings, the perpetrators are armed and dangerous, so you should never approach them.
• Immediately contact the South African Police Service’s 10111 and report the crime. Remember to provide accurate information to the police to ensure they can respond to the scene.
• If you can identify the cash-in-transit company involved in the attack, you can contact their national control room to report the incident so that they can arrange for medical and operational assistance.
• Do not switch off your vehicle, leave your vehicle in momentum, in case you need to escape the incident.
• Be vigilant of your own surroundings. Lock the vehicle doors and wait for emergency respondents to arrive at the scene.
• With caution, identify the criminals, getaway vehicles, or any information that may be valuable towards an investigation.
• Do not remain around the area to take video footage of the incident.
• Do not post any video footage on social media. Release any footage you may have to the police and/or the cash-in-transit company to assist with their investigation.

Related article: