TZANEEN: Farm Watch assists in heist gang arrests
Six of the perpetrators were arrested and one fatally wounded following the cash-in-transit heist close to Tzaneen yesterday evening.
G4S security officers were transporting money around 18h30 along the R71 road between Letsitele and Tarentaal outside Tzaneen when about ten (10) suspects travelling in two cars accosted them.
“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 gun point before blasting it with explosives. They then fled the scene after taking an undisclosed amount of money,” Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said.
Read: VIDEOS & GALLERY: Letaba Herald live on the scene at cash-in-transit heist
Listen to the police audio:
The police reacted swiftly and within minutes the vehicles were spotted.
A car chase ensued along the Hoedspruit/Lydenburg road.
Read: TZANEEN: R71 road closed after cash in transit heist
Members of the Farm Watch joined and assisted in blocking the route.
One of the vehicles was cornered next to Swadini in Hoedspruit Policing area and a shootout ensued.
Of the six suspects who were in the car, three aged between 43 and 25 were nabbed, two managed to flee and one was fatally wounded. Of the two who fled, one was later apprehended. The suspects and the deceased are from Burgersfort, outside Tzaneen, Hayzview and Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga.
Read: NKOWANKOWA: Yet another cash-in-transit heist
The other vehicle was cornered next to Strydom tunnel. After a shootout, four suspects abandoned it and fled on foot. The police managed to apprehend two of them and the other two are still being pursued.
The arrested suspect are likely to be linked with other cash in transit heists committed in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, this according to Mojapelo. The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has commended the members for their swift response. “This is yet another message that we are sending to other criminals out there that their days are numbered,” said General Ledwaba.
The suspected will appear in Tzaneen magistrate court soon.
More arrests are expected.
