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R810m stolen in SA heists
21/11/2006 10:30 - (SA)
Durban - More than R810m has been stolen in about 3 400 cash-in-transit robberies in South Africa since 2000, it was reported on Tuesday.
The Mercury said these figures emerged on Monday in Durban regional court in response to bail applications by 26 men charged with two robberies in the Umfolozi area.
The State used an affidavit from Anton Widd, general manager of the violent crime office of the SA Banking Risk Information Centre, to oppose the bail bid.
In the document, Widd said this year alone - up until October - saw 468 incidents involving more than R86m.
Last year, there had been 520 reported incidents with a cash loss of almost R200m.
Going back to the year 2000, there had been between 400 and 560 heists each year with between R88m and R140m stolen.
Widd said: "It stands to reason that any threat, trauma or losses for the industry will have a direct influence on the economy. The ripple effect goes without saying."
The 26 accused were travelling in four vehicles when they were arrested last month at the Mvoti Toll Plaza.
It emerged in that 21 of them had previous convictions or cases pending against them.
- SAPA
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