Hawks swoop after cash-in-transit raid in Stellenbosch

The Hawks have made a breakthrough in their hunt for cash-in-transit robbers who struck in Stellenbosch last year.

Western Cape Hawks spokesman Captain Philani Nkwalase said a 27-year-old had been arrested for his alleged involvement in the robbery of two guards at Eikestad Mall in February 2017.

“The alleged suspects attacked the security guard and robbed him of his handgun and assault rifle. They tied him up with cable ties and waited for the one loading the cash into the ATM machine to finish‚” he said.

“Two suspects pointed firearms at him and forced him into the cubicle. He was further instructed to open both safes and empty all the canisters.”

Nkwalase said the suspects fled with cash after locking both guards in the ATM vault‚ leaving the assault rifle outside.

All the while the unsuspecting driver of the armoured cash van waited in vain for his colleagues to finish their delivery.

Nkwalase said more arrests were expected. The suspect will appear in Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The breakthrough is a welcome success in a week which saw a highly organised and brazen attack on a cash-in-transit convoy in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni.

In that heist‚ 10 men in luxury cars and armed with assault rifles attacked two vehicles and used explosives to blow the armoured skins off the trucks.