The vigilance of a security guard led to four suspects being arrested on Friday morning for card swapping.
It was about 6am when a security guard at the Murchison Mall noticed that a man in an ATM queue was acting suspiciously. He continued to observe the man and then searched the surrounding area for anything untoward. He soon spotted a red VW Polo with three occupants parked opposite the bank. The guard realised there was a connection between those in the car and the man at the ATM. He immediately called a detective at Ladysmith SAPS to explain his suspicions. A short while later, the vehicle drove off.
Within a few minutes, the vehicle was intercepted at another ATM in King Street by two Ladysmith detectives, Constable Bongani Zwane and Constable Themba Ngwenya. They found that the occupants were involved in card swapping at the ATM. Back-up was provided by Ladysmith Crime Intelligence and Visible Policing officers.
On searching the vehicle, police recovered various cards, one stolen bank card and a large amount of cash. The four men were arrested and will be charged with common robbery relating to an incident earlier that morning where a bank card was stolen. The car was also seized.
Police are investigating other possible links to card swapping incidents in town. The four suspects – aged 24, 27, 32 and 34 – are set to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court today (Monday).
