Gauteng, already grappling with a high number of cash-in-transit (CIT) heists, witnessed yet another incident on Wednesday afternoon in Springs. The region’s alarming trend of such robberies once again came into the spotlight as police managed to arrest two suspects following a dramatic chase on the M1.
Describing the incident, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe reported that a group of armed individuals forced a cash van to a halt. “The security personnel, after collecting money from multiple outlets, were ambushed and disarmed on their way back to base. Subsequent to this, the cash van was bombed, and the assailants fled with an undisclosed sum,” Mathe elaborated.
In a commendable display of quick response, combined forces from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the Johannesburg Flying Squad located and engaged the suspects near the Booysens off-ramp on the M1 South by 20:20. The confrontation led to a shootout, resulting in the death of one suspect while two others were detained.
The law enforcement team secured three rifles, cash, equipment typically used in such heists, two cell phones, and a couple of empty cash bags from the scene.
With the manhunt still ongoing for the remaining perpetrators, Acting national commissioner Tebello Mosikili emphasized the police force’s commitment to countering these syndicates. “Our objective remains unaltered: dismantle syndicates and groups that are implicated in these violent crimes. They can either surrender or face our continued pursuit,” Mosikili stated.
Athlenda Mathe further highlighted the intense police action over the past week, noting the arrest of a staggering 10,158 suspects implicated in various crimes, including murder and armed robberies, underscoring the region’s pressing security concerns.