SAPS task teams are out in full force to apprehend the rest of 17 suspects involved in today’s cross-fire between authorities and CIT robbers in Hendrina. Residents were warned to stay indoors.

Marlie Wolmarans from Acsu Security says that authorities are currently moving from home to home, searching each property for the remaining suspects who were ambushed in their planned CIT heist.

Hendrina residents were forced into lockdown this morning, some of them hiding under beds, after the town was turned into a warzone by cross-fire.

The shoot-out ensued after authorities caught wind of a planned CIT heist that would have gone down today. 17 suspects hid in a known drug house in Brink Street for two days with the intent to ambush the cash-in-transit vehicle.

The Hawks’ Colonel Katlego Mogale says the shoot-out ensued after a multi-disciplinary team arrived at the identified safe house in Hendrina. Two of the suspects escaped on foot. Three were found in a caravan in a nearby residence whilst two others were arrested in the safe house.

Four suspects fled the scene in a Mercedes Benz. They were arrested on the Arnot Road after a high-speed chase.

Two suspects who managed to flee, hijacked several vehicles as they allegedly made their escape towards Elukwatini near the Swaziland border to Mpumalanga.

A helicopter also joined in the search for the robbers.

“Hendrina is still chaotic as most residents remain barricaded in their homes, while the police search for the remainder of the suspects. Three more suspects were found hiding in a caravan on a resident’s property,” says Wolmarans

She confirms that main roads are blocked off by authorities to allow the search operation to continue.

The Arnot is barricaded, leaving only the N11 Hendrina/Middelburg road open to allow traffic. Main roads in Hendrina have been blocked off and strictly monitored and patrolled by law enforcement.

Residents are being urged to stay home and avoid the town area.