Crime

Suspects arrested for cash-in-transit heist in Hoedspruit

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and the Hoedspruit police and Hoedspruit Farmwatch last Wednesday arrested three men aged between 28 and 52 who are suspected to have ambushed and robbed a G4S armoured vehicle near Hoedspruit.

According to information, the armoured car and its escort vehicle were driving from Hoedspruit to Tzaneen at around 16:00 when they were ambushed by armed robbers who were driving in three vehicles. “The suspected robbers started shooting at the escort vehicle until it came to a standstill and they disarmed the guards (driver and crew) with their official rifles and pistols. Unfortunately, the two guards were shot at and sustained injuries that resulted in the death of the driver.

It is further alleged that the armed robbers pursued the armoured vehicle while shooting at it until it came to a standstill,” Lt Col Matimba Maluleke of the Hawks confirmed. He said the driver of the armoured vehicle and his crew had been ordered to disembark the vehicle, to disarm two firearms, and were chased into the nearby bushes. “The suspects used explosives to blast the armoured vehicle and made off with an undisclosed amount.

Also read: CPF campaign leads to arrests in Tzaneen

The Hoedspruit Farmwatch was activated and they spotted the suspects’ vehicles driving towards Hoedspruit,” he added. In an attempt to stop them, obstacles were placed in the road. The suspects then started shooting at members of the Hoedspruit Farmwatch who retaliated in self-defense. “During the shootout, four suspects were killed and one was injured and arrested on the spot. The other suspects ran into the nearby bushes and vanished.

In the early hours of Thursday, the suspects who had fled were traced with the assistance of the Hoedspruit Farmwatch dogs and a helicopter, and they were located in a taxi that was travelling to Acornhoek and arrested. The two injured suspects were found in possession of suspected stolen money,” he added. “The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation members were summoned to the scene. An undisclosed amount, one assault rifle, and other firearms were seized.

Also read: HOEDSPRUIT: Manhunt on for cash-in-transit heist suspects

The three injured suspects are under police guard in hospital and they will make their first court appearance soon. We are still searching for the remaining suspects,” said Maluleke. Members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation are determined to vigorously fight the scourge of cash-in-transit robberies in the province.

The provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Maj Genl Gopz Govender has since issued a stern warning against the cash-in-transit robbers saying no citizen will again die at the hands of criminals. “If this is a fight, we are ready to use the resources available to us to protect citizens and their properties, but in this fight, we are going to come out victorious,” Govender concluded. Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects can contact Col Motle on 079 886 6618 or contact the nearest police station.

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Anwen Mojela

Anwen Mojela is a journalist at the Letaba Herald. She graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology. Including an internship and freelancing, Anwen has four years’ experience in the field and has been a permanent name in the Herald for nearly three years. Anwen’s career highlights include a water corruption investigative story when she was an intern and delving into wildlife and nature conservation. “I became a journalist mainly to be the voice of the voiceless, especially working for a community newspaper. Helping with the bit that I can, makes choosing journalism worth it.

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