CT cops kill 4 would-be robbers

2009-10-26 17:27

Johannesburg - Police shot dead four would-be cash-in-transit robbers in Cape Town on Monday, Western Cape police said.

A gang of five attacked a Coin Security van in Bamford Street, Kuilsrivier around lunch time and police patrolling the area responded, spokesperson Musa Zondi said.

"In the ensuing gunfight, two robbers died. Three robbers fled and police were hot on their trail. The robbers turned and fired at the police who then returned fire."

Two of the three remaining robbers were shot and killed in Lourens Street and the third was arrested, unhurt.

Rammed into cash van

They used two stolen cars to ram the van.

"The first car, a Mercedes-Benz rammed the cash van from the front. A second car, a white Toyota Camry pulled up and occupants jumped out and started firing at the cash van."

Unfortunately for the robbers we were just around the corner," Zondi told Sapa.

Members from the police's Task Force and policing units were involved in the shootout. No police officers or any member of the public were injured.

Increase in heists at Christmas

Zondi said police were on alert for cash-in-transit heists, as every year around Christmas, there was an increase in this type of crime.

"There are a number of priority crimes that we work on, and we know which routes are targeted. This is the result of good police work, with good intelligence, which produced good results."

Police were still looking for more firearms the robbers might have thrown away while fleeing.

"This is a residential area. We don't want the weapons ending up in the wrong hands."

So far police had recovered two handguns, an AK-47 and R4 rifle.

'This is war'

National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele congratulated the police for their work.

"This is war and police are rising to the challenge to protect life and limb of ordinary South Africans.
Police responded and did what they had to do.

"This is another way of showing that we are serious about fighting crime and making this country safe for all its citizens," Cele said in a statement.

The arrested man was expected to appear in the Kuilsrivier Magistrate's Court on charges of attempted robbery, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and driving on the wrong side of the road.
 

- SAPA