Driver injured in cash-in-transit heist

A CASH-IN-TRANSIT guard was wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on a G4S armoured van in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal.

According to SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, the vehicle came under attack at 7pm near Skippersnek, in the Vryheid policing area, while travelling to Newcastle, on Monday.

“The suspects fired upon the vehicle, forcing it to stop. The driver fled, but his colleague was wounded and he was taken to hospital.

“The suspects forced open the door of the vehicle using explosives, resulting in the cash being scattered,” said Naidoo.

It was unclear, he said, how much cash was stolen, but the police had immediately implemented their 72-hour activation plan, which ensured the mobilisation of critical resources including crime intelligence, forensic experts, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), seasoned detectives, as well as tactical units.

South Africa has recently had a spate of cash-in-transit heists, mostly in Gauteng. However, experts have warned of the possibility that as police crack down in one province, the heavily armed gangs might simply move to other areas.

In mid-July, three guards were hospitalised after being ambushed while working in Greytown. Explosives were also used to gain access to the cash vaults in the vehicle in that incident.

In late July, two attempted heists took place within one week. Both incidents were foiled by the police.