CIT officers thwart heist near Boschfontein

BOSCHFONTEIN – A suspect died and another was wounded in an attempted cash-in-transit heist near the local Magistrate’s Court last Thursday morning.

According to Wahl Bartmann, the CEO of Fidelity Services Group, a group of around eight armed suspects in three cars opened fire on one of their vehicles at a T-junction.

The officers returned fire and fatally wounded one of the drivers. The driver lost control of the car and hit a tree.

Another suspect was critically injured.

The suspects abandoned one of the vehicles and fled on foot.

No cash was stolen.

READ about last year’s Unsuccessful CIT heist in KaMhlushwa

Police found empty cartridges, illegal AK-47s, live ammunition and cellphones in the car. Investigators later also found that it was fitted with false number plates.

Bartmann commended the officers on their bravery and said Fidelity is working closely with the SAPS in their investigation.

The Department of Health was notified to be on the lookout for and to report the gunshot victim, as he would have had to seek medical assistance somewhere in the province.

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The national police commissioner, Gen Khehla Sithole, lauded the security officials for their bravery when faced with dangerous criminals. He instructed that the 72-hour activation plan of mobilising resources and various law enforcement agencies be implemented to track down the suspects.

Police urged members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest. People can contact the SAPS hotline on 08600-1011 – their identity will be kept confidential. Callers can also remain anonymous.

Community members were warned that hiding or assisting criminals is a crime and that they would be arrested if police found out what they were doing.