A dramatic cash in transit (CIT) heist unfolded on Monday evening, 7 August 2023, along the route between Newcastle and Dundee, as law enforcement swiftly responded to counter the armed assailants.
The incident, which transpired on the R68 Sunset Rest Road, approximately a kilometer away from the N11, saw a group of men attempting to seize cash from a G4S van.
Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team’s Imran Ghafoor said he received an alert about the incident at approximately 6:45 pm. In response, units from the Newcastle South African Police Service (SAPS), the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team, and Optimus Protection Services sprang into action, aiming to intercept the suspects on their path.
Law enforcement agencies from Ladysmith, Dundee, and Glencoe were also mobilised to the scene to assist in the operation. Despite the quick response, the suspects managed to evade capture before authorities arrived, making off with a limited sum of money and one of the security guard’s firearms, as per Ghafoor.
Ghafoor detailed that the group of perpetrators numbered between 12 to 15 individuals, reportedly utilised three vehicles during their escape.
In their bid to seize the cash, the armed assailants fired upon the CIT vehicle and reportedly attempted to bomb the vehicle, but their efforts were disrupted mid-process.
Seizing the opportunity to escape before law enforcement could fully converge on the scene, the suspects absconded with the pilfered cash and the seized firearm. Miraculously, no injuries were reported as a result of the heist.
A comprehensive investigation has now been launched into the incident by law enforcement agencies, seeking to uncover the identities of the criminals involved.
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