Thieves are coming for drop safes at fuel garages
Ambulance services were called to the scene as six people were reported to be injured
Fuel garages are targeted by suspects where drop safes are being bombed or attempted to be opened to get the money inside.
Three garages were reportedly targeted in October.
One of the garages that were targeted is in Vosman Extension 10 where 10 unknown suspects bombed two drop safes at the garage on Monday, October 21 at around 03:00 in the morning.
Ambulance services were called to the scene as six people were reported to be injured.
According to an eyewitness of the police, the shop was closed and an unknown man covered with a balaclava was followed by nine other suspects.
He further alleged that the man had a firearm and the suspects shot at the door, entered inside and they locked themselves inside the safe room.
Allegedly, there was an explosion where two safes were bombed and damaged but no money was found.
The suspects only managed to get an unknown amount of money from the tills.
The other two garages are situated in Klarinet, one in Ext 6 and one in Ext 8.
The one in Ext 6 was attacked on Monday, October 7, by six unknown suspects who also took cigarettes.
Allegedly, no attempts were made to bomb the drop safe.
The garage in Ext 8 was attacked on Tuesday, October 22.
The manager of the garage, who wished to stay anonymous, said that more than 10 suspects attacked the garage.
The suspects were armed with firearms and fortunately, no one was hurt.
The manager said: “The suspects did not manage to bomb the drop safe at the garage. The whole issue about the bombing of drop safes is that ATMs are now more complicated to bomb.”
He added that they are looking for strategies on how to curb robberies at garages.
“We are still waiting for policy payouts so that we can have the funds to put up measures to avoid robberies.”
On behalf of Witbank Police Station Brigadier Lindani Ndlovu, Witbank SAPS communications officer Captain Eddie Hall said: “As the festive season is approaching, the Brigadier would like to warn fuel garages to deposit cash regularly and do not keep cash within the premises. Be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles and persons around the premises and alert security officers to be in higher alert and report suspicious vehicles and persons.”
He added: “If suspicious vehicles or persons are spotted, contact the police station as soon as possible so that officers can attend to the matter and proactively patrol the area.”
