Photo: SAPS / Twitter
Photo: SAPS / Twitter
Three armed robbers operating in Mamelodi saw their attempted cash-in-transit (CIT) heist busted just moments after they had stolen from a security van at a nearby mall. After holding the drivers at gunpoint, the thugs ran off with several money boxes that were on board.
A recently-released statement from the SA Police Service (SAPS) revealed that those get-away efforts were short-lived when almost instantaneously, the Mamelodi Intervention Task team supported by the local K9 unit and station members responded.
Mamelodi CIT: Three busted in SAPS sting
The task team intercepted the first two suspects only a few streets away from the mall in Mamelodi West and were thereafter led to a third suspect and all have been arrested. These apprehensions lead police to another vital breakthrough, as they traced the hideouts and vehicles used by the three, who hadn’t exactly plotted the perfect crime here.
#sapsHQ #SAPSNPC, Gen #Sitole has praised a multi-disciplinary #SAPS team in Mamelodi West for the swift arrest of three Cash-in-transit (#CIT) robbers and the recovery of cash and firearms. #TrioCrimes #FightingCrime MEhttps://t.co/0IM2mPCnpm pic.twitter.com/T1t4eTfDAe
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) July 22, 2019
Discoveries lead to more arrests
Pistols, money boxes and a stolen getaway car were discovered at their numerous safehouses. In fact, the Hyundai Sedan was reported hi-jacked in Silverton in April this year. It’s a case of what goes around, comes around for these crooks – but as daft as their plans were, that was matched by the excellent response of SAPS officers.
The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole praised the response of the Mamelodi cops. As well as nabbing the three suspects, the accomplices who homed the trio are also subject to a police investigation. Sitole lauded the quick-thinking officers:
“I want to applaud all members for the speed with which they acted as well as their dedication to this case. The collective approach and the positive attitude displayed by our members is what is encouraged through the Turn-around Vision of the South African Police Service ‘Patriotic Selflessness’.”
John Sitole
All of those arrested are set to be processed by the courts in due course.
