The Schoemansdal police have arrested a 36-year-old suspect, linked to cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies on Tuesday March 22. They also confiscated several items, including weapons, detonators and bullet proof vests in the process.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, says the incident follows a foiled CIT robbery on Friday, March 18.

“Unknown suspects had attempted to rob a cash-in-transit van, but security personnel managed to act quickly and avoid it. One security guard was shot in the stomach and taken to the hospital for medical assistance,” says Mohlala.

On Tuesday, the police happened to find some of the suspects in Schoemansdal. An unknown number of suspects fled the scene, leaving behind high-performance vehicles, detonators, firearms and ammunition, bulletproof vests from Bidvest and balaclavas.

“One suspect was arrested after the police had cornered their vehicles. The others managed to flee on foot,” says Mohlala.

He says police believe the suspects might be linked to a number of CIT robberies, given the magnitude of the weapons and equipment found.

The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to locate the owners of three vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Ford Ranger.

The suspect will appear in court soon, facing a charge of the possession of an unlawful, dangerous weapon. The police are still searching for the rest.

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, applauded members of the Schoemansdal police for the work they have done. She has vowed to fight these criminals until they surrender.