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Heist: Fuel canister found
23/10/2006 16:29 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A "breakthrough" was made in the battle against cash-in-transit heists when three suspects were arrested after an attempted heist on the East Rand on Monday, police said.
"It is a very big success for police because the suspects were arrested in light of the recent outcry about these crimes - this is a breakthrough," said spokesperson Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.
The men held Fidelity security guards at gunpoint outside the Marrionette Centre in Meyersdal near Albert around midday.
"They removed the cash from the Fidelity van and put it into their getaway vehicle. Two suspects were dressed in Fidelity guard uniforms," said Martins-Engelbrecht.
They also stole the guards' weapons and took the uniform off one of the guards.
When police arrived people were scattering in different directions. Seven were arrested initially.
"Three of the seven people arrested were positively linked to the crime," she said. Canister of petrol found No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
An undisclosed amount of cash was recovered as well as the 9mm firearms allegedly used by the men.
Police found a canister of petrol in the getaway vehicle which they may have intended to use to douse the vehicle and burn it.
Four men were arrested in Limpopo last week after a cash-in-transit vehicle was set on fire, killing four security guards inside.
Martins-Engelbrecht said police will investigate whether the men arrested could be linked to other cash heists.
The men will be charged with armed robbery and will appear in court within the next 48 hours, she said.
- SAPA
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