Robbers swipe bank heist docket

2008-04-14 16:13

Johannesburg - Armed robbers broke into the Johannesburg High Court and took documents relating to allegedly the biggest bank cash heist in the country, Director of Public Prosecutions Charin de Beer said on Monday.

They escaped after being involved in a shootout with Johannesburg metro police.

De Beer said eight armed robbers broke into the court building on Sunday night and stole various items including the docket and various exhibits relating to the Thutse matter - a R46m First National Bank cash centre robbery from last year.

"[This was apparently] the biggest cash robbery in the country."

De Beer said however that nothing was taken that would hamper further prosecution in the matter. She said the case was meant to begin on Monday but had been postponed for other reasons.

De Beer said the armed robbers had tied up security guards and broke into two offices.

Dressed in full police gear

One was the Chief Registrar's office and the other was a senior state advocate's office. The robbers took a safe from the registrar's office and a laptop and various documents from other high profile cases were taken from the advocate's office.

De Beer said at the moment, because the offices were treated as a crime scene, they could not enter them to establish exactly what was missing.

However, she said police should finish up probably on Monday, after which a more detailed investigation of what was taken should be conducted.

Police spokesperson Captain Julia Claassen confirmed the incident took place but said police understood there to have been six armed robbers.

One man was dressed in full police gear and the others were wearing police-issue reflective vests.

She said the robbers came to the gate of the building about 9.40pm on Sunday and told the guards they had come to enquire about a rape case.

Once they were let in they forced the guards into a toilet and tied them up.

They then went to the control room where they forced the supervisor to show them where all the other guards were and then disconnected the security systems.

The documents taken contained "sensitive and confidential information".

Claassen said after breaking into the two offices, the robbers fled the scene.

They were pursued by the Johannesburg Metro police and a shootout ensued. No one was injured and the robbers escaped.

Police are investigating a case of armed robbery.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the police on 0860 10111.

- SAPA