Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a manhunt for an unknown number of suspects following two separate cash-in-transit heists on Monday.
The first incident took place in Cottonlands near Ndwedwe, north of Durban, while the other happened in Pietermaritzburg.
Both incidents reportedly happened around the same time.
Police say the robbers were able to get away with an undisclosed amount of cash in both incidents.
About 15 heavily armed men stormed this cash-in-transit vehicle in this secluded area north of Durban. They reportedly used explosives to set the vehicle alight.
Police say the robbers disarmed security guards in the vehicle with a rifle and a pistol before fleeing the scene.
Police Spokesperson for KZN, Robert Netshiunda says, “The suspects made away with an undisclosed amount of money. They did what they usually do by opening fire towards the vehicle until it came to a standstill and then managed to accost the security guards and rob them of their firearms before they took the cash.”
The road had to be closed for hours whilst police tried to clear the scene.
Meanwhile, at around nine in the morning, police were called to attend to another cash-in-transit robbery in Pietermaritzburg. The robbery was conducted by an unknown number of suspects.
Police say the robbers stole an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene using separate getaway vehicles.
Netshiunda says, “Multiple suspects accosted the cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle, robbed guns and took the money. Like I am saying, this is an organised crime, it’s well-orchestrated, and the police will not be able to stop it. You hardly hear of an incident where they bomb the car and find no cash.”‘
Last year, police recorded over 200 incidents of CIT nationally, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for about 27 percent of those cases, followed by Gauteng at 25% and the Eastern Cape at about 21%.
