Hawks nab suspect after N8 cash-in-transit heist near Bloemfontein

A man has been arrested in connection with the cash-in-transit robbery that occurred on the N8 near Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

According to Bloemfontein Courant, the suspect was apprehended at a house in Botshabelo (Section H), where two vehicles matching the description of those used in the robbery were found.

The multi-disciplinary police operation involved the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the Crime Intelligence Unit, the Tactical Response Team, visible policing and explosives units, and the local criminal record centre. The house and vehicles were searched, and several assault rifles, a pistol, rounds of ammunition, bullet-resistant vests, clothing items and an unknown concoction inside a bottle were discovered.

Previous N8 incident

This was not the first incident on the N8 this year. In July, a heist occurred on the same road. At the time, a cash vehicle en route from Botshabelo to Bloemfontein was rammed by a silver Mercedes-Benz before a group of armed suspects opened fire. One of the guards was shot and sustained an injury to his right arm.

Hawks call for action

Free State Hawks head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba has called for relevant stakeholders to work together on a strategy to prevent similar incidents.

The robbery on Tuesday involved a cash delivery van travelling on the N8 when a group of armed suspects attacked. “They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene. Later on the same day, a marked police vehicle was shot at by suspects believed to be part of the robbery. No one was injured,” said WO Fikiswa Matoti from the Hawks.

The suspect was expected to appear in court today, but the outcome was not known at the time of publishing. Investigations are still underway.

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