SBV Services is offering R1 000 000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects after a cash-in-transit heist last week.
A group of heavily armed robbers succeeded to get their hands on an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene leaving five injured people behind.
The cash-in-transit security vehicle was bombed and robbed in the early hours of Thursday, November 24.
A violent shootout occurred on the Vandyksdrift and Goedehoop Road intersection after an alleged collision with a Toyota Cruiser.
An unknown number of armed suspects opened fire on the vehicle that accompanied the SBV security van and gained access to the cash van.
The robbery scene of the SBV cash-in-transit heist on the Vandyksdrift Road. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken by heavily armed robbers in the early morning hours of November 24.
The guards were coming from eMalahleni heading towards Ga-Nala when the Toyota Land Cruiser approached head-on to the armoured vehicle while it was at a four way stop.
Suddenly a number of vehicles which included a white Audi A4, gold Toyota Fortuner and a white Isuzu bakkie surrounded the armoured vehicle. The occupants from these vehicles, who were armed with rifles including AK47’s, jumped out of the various vehicles, shot and wounded the guard in the escort vehicle, disarmed the other guards then blasted the rear door of the armoured vehicle with explosives.
There was later a message going around that eye witnesses saw the robbers flee the scene with a white BMW X5 and grey Ford Ranger.
Five people were injured and were assisted by Langamed Ambulance Services, Legacy Emergency Specialists, ER24 and the Provincial Ambulance Service that arrived on the scene. As paramedics along with other emergency services arrived on the scene they found five vehicles, one of which was the large SBV cash-in-transit van. It’s alleged that the rest of the vehicles were riddled with bullet holes.
Paramedics quickly stabilized the injured victims before transporting them to Life Cosmos Hospital for further medical treatment.
“Four of the five injured victims sustained minor injuries as the fifth injured was shot in the leg. He was also the security guard that was driving the escort vehicle for the SBV van,” said Mr Dino Padayachee, CEO of Langamed Emergency Management.
“The paramedics of Langamed treated and stabilised two of the wounded. The one person that sustained head injuries and the driver that was injured due to a bullet in the leg,” he continued.
The day after the robbery, police launched a manhunt for the group of men who were involved in the heist.
Mr Mark Barrett, Managing Director of SBV Services commends the team for bravely defending this attack.
“We warn the perpetrators that we will persist with this investigation until they are brought to justice. We have a professional investigations team, a good working relationship with the authorities and the resources to ensure that justice is served. Crime and acts that compromise the safety of our employees will not be tolerated,” said Barrett.
SBV’s Risk and Compliance team is working with the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. Members of the public, who are aware of any information regarding this incident, can call the SBV Early Warning Robbery Hotline available 24/7 on 083 408 7029.
The empty G4S money bag that was left at the attempted cash in transit heist. The incident occurred at a petrol station in Tasbet Park on November 27.
*Just as the thought of this violent heist disappeared another group of men tried to rob G4S cash in transit security vehicle at a petrol station in Kiepersol Street, Tasbet Park.
On Monday morning, November 27 the G4S security crew went to collect cash from the petrol station. Upon arrival one of the security guards opened the cash van to take out the money bag and went inside the station, when he realised he took the wrong company’s money bag.
As he went back to the cash van to collect the correct money bag, he heard the cocking of a firearm and turned around, just to see an unknown man pointing him with a firearm.
It was alleged that the robber demanded the guard to hand over his firearm and the money bag. After the armed robber realised that the money bag was empty, he dropped it and fled with the security guard’s firearm. It was alleged that the robber jumped into a white Toyota RunX along with four other suspects.
Luckily no one was injured on this scene but the robbers are still at large. Police are still investigating the incident.
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