Police officer and security guard in critical condition after Durban shooting
The officer and security guard were shot while trying to stop an attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit vehicle.
A POLICE officer and a security guard are in a critical condition after they were shot in the line of duty yesterday, 20 April.
They rushed to stop an attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit vehicle when suspects opened fire and injured the 25-year-old constable as well as the security guard.
Brigadier Jay Naicker, spokesperson for the SAPS, said the suspects fled the scene empty-handed.
“It is alleged that at 3.30pm the cash-in-transit guard was conveying a cash box to his vehicle when five men confronted him and forcefully removed the cash box from his possession. The police officers came to his assistance and managed to prevent the men from fleeing with the moneybox,” he said.
Read the original story here: Policeman shot in alleged cash-in-transit heist
“Both the police officer and the security guard were transported to a local hospital where they remain in a critical condition,” added Naicker.
According to Naicker, several police officers from the Durban Central police station was at a shopping mall viewing video footage, that could assist in an investigation when the robbery occurred.
“As they were viewing the footage, they were alerted to a cash-in-transit robbery that had taken place on the premises and they immediately responded,” said Naicker.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi applauded the police officers for immediately springing into action and preventing the robbers from fleeing with the cash.
Also read: Gang of seven suspects rob Umbilo business
“We are saddened to hear that a police officer and security guard were injured in this skirmish with the robbers and we wish them a speedy recovery. We will do everything that is with our control to bring the perpetrators to book,” said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.
Detectives from the Hawks are investigating the cash-in-transit robbery and a manhunt is underway to trace the perpetrators.
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