Spike recorded in cash-in transit heists

AT LEAST one cash-in-transit heist has been committed in South Africa every second day since the start of the year.

The easing of lockdown restrictions in the country has seemingly caused a spike in heists, with at least three robberies carried out in separate towns within 30 minutes on August 3.

According to the latest police statistics, 164 cash-in-transit robberies have been committed since the beginning of 2020, which is a 10% drop from the 183 cases recorded in 2019. But there are concerns that it might get out of control with the opening up of the economy.

The cash-in-transit industry and the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) have formed the Cash-In-Transit Association of SA, which will further co-ordinate efforts to counter these violent attacks.

The association will be made up of cash-in-transit companies, while other organisations with the same objective will be afforded an opportunity to come on board and participate.

Sabric chief executive Nischal Mewalall said: “The industry must be commended for its proactive approach and Sabric remains fully committed to supporting all initiatives to enable the fight against this scourge.”

Mewalall applauded the partnership the group had formed with cashin-transit companies, the government and law enforcement agencies.

“Never before has collaboration been more essential. These robberies have the potential to severely worsen our economy, which is already under severe pressure.”