Dogged criminals often defy incredible odds to pull off acts of lawlessness.
This was the case when a group of armed robbers struck a stationary G4S security vehicle in broad daylight on 3 April, along Kruis Street near the Carlton Centre in the Joburg CBD, injuring two guards.
“At around 10.30am, G4S security were delivering money when they were approached by a group of armed men who started shooting at them,” said provincial police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele. “The [unknown number of] suspects got away with [an undisclosed amount of] cash as well as two service pistols stolen from the [injured] guards.”
The guards were attended to by emergency medical services personnel on the scene, before being transported to a Joburg hospital. “Both guards sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to a hospital. However, their current condition is unknown,” Makhubele added.
Referring to the recent spate of cash-in-transit heists in Joburg, Makhubele outlined that there are no known hotspots for this type of organised crime as it occurs sporadically. “[The police] are experiencing a number of incidents but not in the same way, [as] these crimes occur [anywhere from] business areas to open veld spaces,” he said.
“It is not known whether the suspects – travelling in a white Quantum – form part of a criminal syndicate. It is only after arrests have been made that that can be established. The police have opened an attempted murder and robbery docket and are in the process of conducting investigations notwithstanding the viewing of CCTV footage.”
However, moments after the incident occurred, members of the police’s crime intelligence and related policing units arrived and cordoned off the area to conduct preliminary investigations, uncovering spent cartridges in the process.
“A number of spent cartridges were found at the scene, assumingly discharged from high calibre weapons such as [assault] rifles,” explained Makhubele, who has urged members of the public to come forward with any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Edited by Beryl Knipe
If you have any information relating to the cash-in-transit heist that rocked the Carlton Centre on 3 April, contact the police on 10111.
