AK-47s and official bullet-proof vests recovered in cash-in-transit heist arrests

08 June 2018 - 13:31 By Penwell Dlamini
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The scene of an attempted cash-in-transit heist on the N3 highway near Marlboro Drive in Johannesburg on May 23, 2018. File photo
The scene of an attempted cash-in-transit heist on the N3 highway near Marlboro Drive in Johannesburg on May 23, 2018. File photo
Image: Alex Sweet Patrick

A total of nine AK-47 rifles‚ two police bulletproof vests and two other vests from the military are some of the items recovered by the police in a spate of cash-in-transit heists in Gauteng.

This was revealed by Provincial Commissioner General Deliwe de Lange in her report to the portfolio committee on community safety‚ sitting in the Johannesburg City Hall on Friday.

De Lange told the committee that 74 heists have happened between August 2017 and May 2018. Of this figure‚ 30 were hits on the cash in armoured vehicles. De Lange said the heists were conducted at night by organised gangs who work in the province.

De Lange celebrated the fact that 25 people have been arrested in the above period. Other items recovered include one R59 assault rifle‚ one R4 assault rifle‚ BM4 rifle and 11 9mm firearms. In addition‚ 16 vehicles used in the crimes were recovered and R94-million in hard cash.

Gauteng MEC of community safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane says there is now a coordinated plan to deal with the increasing cash in transit heists in the province.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the portfolio committee on community safety‚ Nkosi-Malobane said the department had called together all law enforcement agencies and cash transporting companies to draft a plan.

"We assisted them in making sure that they develop an effective plan of fighting cash in transit heists in our province.

"We also invited cash in transit companies. Hence we are beginning to see a change in terms of dealing with this crime‚” said Nkosi-Malobane.

"We have already effected 25 arrests on cash in transit heists. We've already identified 126 criminals that are involved in cash in transit heists. We are confident that if we arrest those people and make sure that they face prosecution we will be able to arrest the crisis."

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