CONCERNS have been raised about a growing trend of criminals using explosives and even “bombs” to ambush cash-in-transit vans.
In February, an SBV Security team member was ambushed by a group of criminals and they strapped explosives to his body before dropping him off on the side of the N2 highway near Somerset West. The employee was not harmed and the robbers made off with an undisclosed amount of money.
On Monday a cash-in-transit team were ambushed in Gugulethu, a hand grenade tossed in their direction and detonated and one person was killed.
SBV Security has offered a R1 million reward to anyone with any information regarding this latest crime.
Independent researcher on cash-in-transit heists and crime intelligence Dr Hennie Lochner said police investigators need to always start looking at security employees first: “When a cash-in-transit heist happens there is a 59% chance that someone who works in the security industry is somehow involved.”
Lochner is also the author of the book Transito: The Truth Behind Big-Money Robberies and researches these kinds of crimes. He said this latest trend in Cape Town would continue for the foreseeable future.
“The most important reason why this is happening is because of the make-up of these criminals groups. What is happening now is that when a group pulls off a successful robbery like this, they go away from it and each person that was part of that robbery will join another group of criminals and try to replicate this kind of heist.”
Following the latest incident in Gugulethu, chief of SBV Security Mark Barret said: “We work closely with the SAPS and never close a case until there is a conviction.”
He added: “We know that communities are critical in the fight against crime and encourage anyone with information to call our confidential Early Warning Robbery Hotline on 083 408 7029. This attack is to be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said: “Investigations into both these incidents are ongoing.”