Police vehicles are seen parked outside the George Goch Hostel in Denver, Johannesburg, 17 May 2018, where a shoot-out ensued following a cash in transit heist which occurred earlier in Boksburg. Police chased down the perpetrators to the hostel where they arrested five men in connection with the heist. Picture: Michel Bega
Despite claims to the contrary, no police officer was involved in the dramatic cash-in-transit armed robbery near Boksburg yesterday, in which two vehicles were robbed of cash after explosives were used to blow them open.
A manhunt has been launched for five suspects who got away while five others were being cornered.
Two armoured vehicles, en route from the depot to a bank in Kempton Park, were yesterday confronted by about four vehicles and a group of heavily armed suspects.
“A brief shoot-out ensued and the security guards were injured in the resultant skirmish. They were then disarmed and both the trucks were damaged with explosives. The suspects then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money,” Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said.
“Police responded swiftly and gave chase with the help of a Saps chopper. The suspects continued shooting at the police. However, they were eventually cornered around the Denver area, leading to the arrest of five suspects aged between 26 and 48 at the George Goch Hostel.”
According to Mulamu, several firearms, including AK47 rifles and ammunition, vehicles, and some of the stolen money were seized.
The five are expected to appear at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.
The portfolio committee on police will have a special hearing on the recent spate of cash-in-transit heists on June 13, chairperson Francois Beukman said this week.
“These acts of criminality, undertaken using high-calibre rifles, must be condemned at all times and society must work with law enforcement agencies to effectively deal with the matter. Saps management must strengthen the Crime Intelligence and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation units to deal with this upsurge,” Beukman said.
On Monday, the Hawks arrested Warrant Officer Petrus Doctor Nkosi, attached to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, for conspiracy to commit cash-in-transit heists, armed robbery, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice.
He allegedly conspired with a syndicate in 2015 which reportedly resulted in a bank robbery and a cash-in-transit heist in Hazyview that year.
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