Two bystanders were shot and killed during a cash-in-transit robbery that occurred at Barry Marais Road in Dawn Park, Gauteng, on Monday.

Police said a cash delivery vehicle was bumped from the back by a silver Mercedes-Benz, causing the truck to capsize onto a Toyota Quantum taxi, which had seven occupants. 

“Five of the occupants sustained injuries and were given medical treatment while the other two escaped with no injuries,” said Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.

She said a group of approximately eight assailants bombed the cash delivery vehicle and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.

Gunshots were exchanged during the heist between security officials and the robbers.

Two bystanders were caught in the crossfire and have been declared dead.

“The police urge the public not to approach scenes of cash-in-transit (robberies) and also not to try to pick up money blown from the cash vehicles,” said Nevhuhulwi.

“The community should remain vigilant of their surroundings at all times and report any criminal activities on the SAPS Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111.”

Police investigations are underway.

Earlier this year, IOL reported that police in Mbombela were investigating an attempted cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery, following an incident which occurred on along the N4 road near Kanyamazane turn-off.

Provincial police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said assailants travelling in multiple vehicles made repeated attempts to ram into the cash delivery vehicle, but the vigilant security officers successfully fended off the attack.

According to police reports, security guards from a cash solutions company were driving a cash van, travelling on the N4 Road near the Kanyamazane turn-off. The security guards were coming from the Malelane direction and heading towards Mbombela (Nelspruit).

It is alleged that several vehicles suddenly appeared, and the cars, including a grey Toyota Fortuner, a white Ford Ranger with Gauteng registration number plates, a Toyota Hilux GD-6, and a white Mercedes-Benz.

The driver of the cash-in-transit noticed that the Mercedes-Benz had significantly slowed down, and he opted to overtake it.

“In a split second, the Mercedes-Benz that he overtook approached from behind, at a high speed. As the driver of the cash van noticed some strange moves of the vehicles, through a rear mirror, he immediately responded and skillfully drove to the opposite lane, facing the oncoming traffic,” said Mdhluli.

In the process, the speeding Mercedes-Benz only caused a minor scratch on the side of the cash delivery van.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

Source link