What to do when you find yourself in the middle of a CIT robbery
“Always remember, the number one priority if you find yourself caught near a CIT robbery is to protect your personal safety.”
Cash-in-transit heists spike at the end of the year, according to data released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA).
CIT heists are incredibly dangerous robberies often involving gunfire.
Multiple CIT heists have occurred in the last month, including bombing, setting alight and gunfire at the incidents.
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A CIT Heist from April this year
“Always remember, the number one priority if you find yourself caught near a CIT robbery is to protect your personal safety,” says Wahl Bartmann, CEO of the Fidelity Services Group.
Bartmann provided the following important safety tips in case you find yourself on the scene of a CIT heist:
– Try and put as much distance between your vehicle and the crime scene as possible.
– Do not exit your vehicle as you could get caught in the crossfire. Vacate the area.
– Never approach perpetrators of a CIT robbery as they are armed and dangerous.
– Criminals may react irrationally when seeing you. Avoid any form of eye- or physical contact.
– Make sure that you do not switch off your vehicle in case you need to escape the scene. Keep your engine running at all times.
– Share videos that you have taken with the authorities. This could assist with the apprehension of the criminals. Posting on social media may jeopardise the case.
Also remember that while videos and photographs from your phone can be useful, they could put you at risk if the suspects see you filming at the time. Be very cautious when attempting to film an incident.
– Immediately notify the police. Contact SAPS at 10111 when you find yourself in a CIT heist.
– If you are not in your car, keep as much distance between yourself and the perpetrators as possible.
– Lie flat on the floor to avoid being caught in the crossfire if any shots are fired.
“Remember, these syndicates are highly trained and dangerous, so caution has to be exercised.”
Bartmann says that Fidelity would be stepping up patrols and surveillance over the next months.
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