Kimberley - The streets of Kimberley resembled something straight out of a Hollywood movie on Monday morning after an armed robbery of a cash-in-transit vehicle in Beaconsfield was followed by a dramatic high-speed chase and a shootout between the police and several of the armed attackers.
The robbery occurred around 9.30am on Monday morning in the alleyway behind K&B Supermarket, when two vehicles boxed in a G4S cash-in-transit vehicle which was parked next to the Standard Bank ATM.
Despite several shots being fired, no one was injured and five suspects were arrested by the police. Several weapons were also confiscated and some of the cash boxes were recovered.
Three G4S security guards were apparently in the process of collecting and offloading cash to K&B Supermarket and the ATM, when several heavily-armed gunmen climbed out of the two vehicles, a red Datsun bakkie parked in front of the armoured truck and Honda parked at the back.
Both vehicles had Free State registration numbers.
The men surrounded the cash-in-transit vehicle and opened fire with R5 assault rifles. Several shots hit the bulletproof window of the armoured vehicle. A number of cartridges still littered the scene, which had been deserted by the police who gave chase when reporters arrived just minutes later.
Two of the security guards were apparently forced to the ground by the attackers, raising concern among bystanders that they had been shot. One of the security guards was robbed of her firearm, which was apparently later retrieved by police.
According to the driver of the armoured vehicle, roughly ten suspects, wearing blue “Spoornet” overalls and masks, gained access to the vehicle’s safe and started loading crates filled with money into the two vehicles before fleeing. Throughout the operation, firearms were directed at the three security guards.
An eyewitness and local businesswoman, Tanya Schmidt, said she was standing on the pavement next to the vehicle when she heard shots.
“At first I thought it was the sound of the heavy money crates being dropped into the truck but then I saw three armed men, with handkerchiefs over their mouths, loading money crates from the cash-in-transit vehicle into the Honda parked behind it.
“One of the gunmen then turned his gun in my direction and I ran into my business. While inside, I heard several more shots. When it became quiet, I managed to write the Honda’s number plate down as it drove away,” a shocked Schmidt said.
She added that she could not see the vehicle parked in front of the truck but had noticed the Honda parked a few metres down the street only minutes earlier.
The suspects then fled in the two vehicles in the direction of Greenside.
The suspects abandoned the Honda behind the Palace near Beaconsfield. A cash box was found next to the vehicle.
The second vehicle, the Datsun bakkie, was found parked with its engine still running in a side street in Greenside.
Several cash boxes and firearms were found inside the bakkie.
After abandoning the two vehicles, some of the suspects fled in a black BMW, while another group ran into Greenside towards the houses. They jumped over several walls before entering a house in First Avenue where they changed their clothes, discarding their blue and red overalls in an unused drain before running out again.
They apparently threatened to shoot onlookers if they alerted the police.
Firearms were also recovered in the drain and in the nearby veld.
Eyewitnesses stated that the suspects were carrying 9mm pistols and a R5 assault rifle.
“We were all terrified. Most of us ran back into our houses and locked the doors,” one witness said.
Another resident stated that he was outside his house when one of the suspects pointed a firearm at him and instructed him to keep quiet.
“The suspects did not appear to be locals and spoke Afrikaans. We know everyone who lives in the neighbourhood and nobody recognised or was able to identify them”
Witnesses also reported hearing several gunshots and stated that the robbers, who acted like professionals, were between the ages of 30 and 50.
“They did not hesitate to shoot. Most of them were heavily built and chubby. Because of their weight, they struggled to run with much agility and speed,” one witness noted.
Residents said that after changing the suspects calmly walked down the street pretending to be locals and enquiring what the commotion was all about.
“They blended into the surroundings like ordinary people strolling the streets and asked for a drink of water. However, they did seem exhausted from all the running.”
A heavy police presence – including members of the Tactical Response Team, Public Order Police, Forensic Unit, Organised Crime Unit and detectives – descended on the area in pursuit of the suspects. It is believed that they were pointed out to the police by community members.
It was also rumoured that one of the suspects is a former police officer.
The Kimberley police managed to arrest five of the suspects believed to have been involved in the armed robbery.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana, said the police were still busy with the investigation to determine how many suspects were involved.
“Some of the suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction, with an undisclosed amount of cash,” said Tawana.
“We have confiscated five unlicensed firearms and two getaway vehicles. Several cash boxes containing an undisclosed amount of cash have been recovered.”
He indicated that no one was shot or injured during the incident.
Northern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Risimati Shivuri commended his police officers for their swift response to the incident.
The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Martha Bartlett, also applauded the police and the community for their assistance in the arrests of the five suspects.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon and the investigation continues.
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