Man shot dead after cigarette heist

THREE weeks after police released the images of suspects wanted in connection with the robbing of several cigarette delivery vans belonging to British American Tobacco (BAT), Eastern Cape police have shot and killed another suspect.

The unidentified man died in a hail of bullets in broad daylight after being cornered in Fort Beaufort on Wednesday afternoon.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said officers recovered boxes of cigarettes in the vehicle in which the man was travelling.

Soci said the man had allegedly robbed a BAT cigarette van while it was doing deliveries in the Keiskammahoek area at 11am.

She said the suspect was chased by police and cornered at 12.30pm in Fort Beaufort.

“Information indicated that the suspect was driving in the direction of Fort Beaufort.

“Members [officers] were placed on high alert and later the vehicle was spotted in Fort Beaufort.

“The members stopped the vehicle, searched it and found some of the allegedly stolen tobacco products. Upon this [happening], the suspect drew a firearm and started shooting at the police members on the scene,” Soci said.

She said a shoot-out ensued between the suspect and the police, resulting in the suspect being fatally wounded.

“The vehicle [the suspect was travelling in] is suspected to have been hijacked earlier in the Western Cape, and inside the vehicle police recovered stolen tobacco products with an estimated value of R100 000, and found a 9mm pistol with the serial number filed off as well as several rounds of ammunition,” said Soci.

She said a case of armed robbery had been opened.

An inquest docket relating to the death of the suspect would be handed to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate for investigation. co.za