‘Cop vans’ aid robbery

INLSA

SHAKEN: Raymondt Dicks and his son Jimmy at his Blue Hills, Midrand, property, where they were robbed at gunpoint and tied up for more than three hours together with a friend of Jimmys at the weekend. Picture: Antoine de Ras

ANGELIQUE SERRAO

angelique.serrao@inl.co.za

A LEGAL adviser working on an investigation into South African banks was robbed at gunpoint at the weekend and his files stolen with what appears to be the help of the police.

But, unbeknown to the group of at least 12 robbers, their entire escapade was caught on cameras hidden around the property.

What the footage shows is what appear to be three police cars – two vans and one Ford Escort – driving backwards and forwards on his 600m-long street while the robbery takes place.

Raymondt Dicks was at home with his son and friend on Saturday night in Blue Hills, Midrand, when six armed men stormed into the house.

Dicks is the legal adviser to the group NewERA (New Economic Rights Alliance), which has launched a court case against the four major banks and the SA Reserve Bank. He is also representing author Michael Tellinger, who is suing Standard Bank for civil fraud.

Describing the incident, Dicks said one man did all the talking, and he forced the trio to lie down and tied their hands with his ties.

“We were tied up belly down. Our hands were so tightly bound we couldn’t feel them,” said Dicks.

“I was continuously hit and pistol-whipped. Even my son’s small dog was slapped because he barked.”

Dicks said he had bruises on his head, neck, ribs, private parts and upper legs.

“They walked in with no shame. It was extremely well orchestrated. What I went through during the robbery was bad enough, but when I watched the footage afterward I was really shocked,” said Dicks.

The footage, said Dicks, showed police vans blocking the road while the robbers entered his property. It shows the men talking and laughing while going through the house for three hours and 20 minutes.

The footage shows their faces and might identify the police vans.

Dicks and his son were made to hand over their bank cards and pins, and their bank accounts were cleared out. A television set, speakers, amplifier, computer and cellphones were also taken.

Dicks said he found it strange that many other valuable items were left behind. For instance, musical instruments and an Xbox, binoculars and cameras were left behind.

Dicks said his files had been meticulously gone through and only two were missing. The files relate to the NewERA and Tellinger cases.

His computer was also carefully cleared and his hard drive taken.

The legal adviser said the robber held the gun to his head and he thought he was going to pull the trigger, but someone outside called “woza” (“come” in isiZulu) and the men left.

Dicks said the video footage shows that at that point the police van outside needed to leave, and it reversed and drove away. He believes the vans were loaded with items stolen during the robbery.

Dicks said his iphone had a tracker and he went with police to the Jeppe taxi rank, where the phone had been sold to a small shop.

“When you look at what was stolen, you realise there was something funny that happened here,” said Dicks. “Why were files with critical information removed?”

Constable Matome Tlamela, from Midrand police station, said they were investigating a case of armed robbery and were yet to make any arrests. She said the video footage did not show clearly if the vans involved belonged to the police, and they were still investigating.

Tellinger said he found what happened to Dicks very disturbing.

“NewERA already has 160 000 members,” said Tellinger. “We are gathering information and evidence to lay criminal charges against the banks.

“The robbery was carried out with military precision and we will put the video footage on the internet so that people can see this was an organised hit.”