ATM bombed, cash stolen in Ottery

Published Dec 18, 2014

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Cape Town -

In the latest ATM bombing in the province, robbers took less than 10 minutes to raid the cash machine and get away with more than R200 000.

According to South African Banking Risk Information Centre senior manager Ronnie Zonke the centre had four incidents on record of explosives being used on ATMs.

Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana said the latest incident on Tuesday night took place on the corner of Strandfontein and Ottery roads in Ottery.

“No arrest has been made at this stage. Circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated,” said Rwexana.

Earlier this month, the police warned of a trend where criminals were using commercial explosives to blast open safes at businesses.

Bombings of drop safes, cash boxes and ATMs were being prioritised and the police said the Hawks were honing in on those responsible.

The Farm Stall and Takeaway in Ottery is the latest victim in the spate of bombings.

Stall owner Nazier Banderker said five men carried out the robbery.

He said two men were outside the shop, presumably keeping watch, while three were inside.

One of them rounded up staff and locked them in Banderker’s office, a second set up explosives at the ATM inside the store, while a third collected money from the tills.

Banderker said his daughter was hit and pushed around because she would not reveal where the keys for her father’s bakkie were being kept.

He said when the gunmen were leaving the store, alarm technicians pulled up in front of the stall and the men assumed it was an armed response unit and shot at them.

“It was really bad. The blast and the shooting were like an American movie. They must have fired about 15 bullets into the vehicle.

“It took between five to 10 minutes for them to get into the store, blast the ATM, take money and then they left,” Banderker recalled.

He said the driver of the vehicle was recovering in hospital after being hit in the hand and arm.

The men made off with about R240 000 from the ATM, which was replenished the same day, and close to R30 000 from the tills before escaping in a silver Toyota Avanza.

Anyone with information on the robbery can contact their nearest police station, CrimeStop anonymously at 086 001 0111 or by SMS to Crime Line, 32211.

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Cape Times

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