A Tshwane Metro police officer among 23 arrested for cash-in-transit crimes
Nowhere to run or hide for cash-in-transit robbers.
A total of 23 suspects were arrested this past week by members of the South African Police Service [SAPS] namely; Crime Intelligence, seasoned investigators, Task Force, Tracing Teams, National Intervention Unit and Tactical Response Team [TRT].
These valiant law enforcement officers were part of what the SAPS described as a ‘High-Density Multidisciplinary Stabilisation Team’. People on Twitter have been posting messages congratulating the organisation for the splendid operation which resulted in the arrest of these criminals through the #CITHeists.
On July 6, police nabbed two suspects for the May Boksburg CIT robbery where two armoured vehicles were bombed/targeted. Of the two, one is a 32-year-old man linked to several CIT robberies in the country.
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His girlfriend, a Tshwane Metro police officer, was also arrested along with him for allegedly storing the weapons used during the Boksburg attack.
Having successfully arrested the suspects, police further recovered one rifle, magazines and several rounds of ammunition. The team also confiscated a Toyota Quantum which is believed to have been a cash purchase.
Since the beginning of January, over 140 cash-in-transit heists have occurred. It is no secret that these #CITrobberies have left the country shaken. People have lost their lives and others were left severely wounded during these heists.
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National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole, declared during the launch of the stabilisation operation that operatives such as these will be used in order to match the force that these brazen criminals use to commit CIT robberies.
General Sitole commended the good work done by the operatives saying, “In order for the police to stamp the authority of the State, we need to continue arresting individuals that commit aggravated robberies, crimes like CIT heists and hijackings instil fear in the inhabitants of this country.
“We will, following these stabilisation operations, follow with a normalisation plan to ensure the people in South Africa are and feel safe.”
The suspects will appear in various courts in Gauteng province next week facing charges of attempted murder, armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and/or suspected stolen vehicles.
Police have indicated that the number of CIT heists has dropped by 60% in the month of June but say a lot of work still needs to be done to reduce these aggravated robberies.
In AdditionÂ
[SAPS statement]
The team went on to arrest a 42-year-old illegal immigrant at a residential estate in Wonderboom. The suspect was found in possession of explosives including detonators and blasting cartridges. He has also been linked to the May Boksburg CIT heist.
In a parallel operation, two women, a 67 and a 33-year-old as well as a 50-year- old man were arrested in Soshanguve in connection with the attempted robbery on a CIT vehicle in Atlas Road in Boksburg on July 4, 2017. The team also recovered one R5 rifle, one LM5 and over 100 rounds of ammunition.
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The 50-year-old suspect has also been linked to several CIT robberies in the country including the Boksburg incident. During the attempted CIT robbery in Boksburg on July 4, one suspect was fatally wounded and a rifle, pistol and several rounds of ammunition were confiscated at the scene.
Six suspects were also arrested during a parallel operation for the cross pavement robbery that occurred at a liquor store in Hammanskraal on Monday, July 2, 2018. During the arrests, eight various kinds of firearms and ammunition were seized.
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There are eight more suspects arrested in connection with the Dobsonville attempted robbery that took place on Wednesday, July 4, 2017.
Four hijacked vehicles were confiscated during the arrests, a Ford Ranger, Volvo, Peugeot and a Kia Picanto. While in Kliptown, Soweto, three suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms. Two firearms and ammunition and a Mini Cooper were seized.
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