Police pounce on cash-in-transit robbers, ATM bombers in Soshanguve

Police on Tuesday said they had pounced on three men in Pretoria who are believed to be involved in cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and ATM bombings in Gauteng.

The arrests come after an intelligence-driven operation on Monday led to the suspects, aged between 25 and 40, in Pretoria.

Police received information about the whereabouts of armed suspects involved in business robberies, CIT heists and ATM bombings.

Several police units and other law enforcement agencies followed up on the information, police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said.

“The information led the team to a house in Soshanguve, where two of the suspects were found. Upon searching the suspects and the house, police recovered three firearms which include an AK-47 rifle, a shotgun and a pistol,” he said.

Ammunition, explosives and stained cash were also found.

The two suspects, aged 34 and 40, were arrested.

The operation proceeded to Lotus Gardens in Pretoria West, where the third suspect, 25, was apprehended. He was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and stained cash, Masondo said.

“The suspects are linked to cash-in-transit robberies, ATM bombings and business robberies committed around Gauteng. The search for other suspects is continuing, and those arrested will appear before the Pretoria magistrate’s court in due course,” he said.

Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela said they were closing in on the remaining suspects.

“The outstanding suspects of the CIT robberies and ATM bombings in our province must know the net is gradually closing in on them and their days are numbered,” he said.

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