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- A woman driving a BMW was hijacked, kidnapped and forced to drive suspects who bombed an armoured cash-in-transit truck in Johannesburg on Saturday morning.
- Scores of people stopped their cars and ran to the scene to grab the money left behind.
- Police said a multidisciplinary team will search for the 15 to 20 suspects who got away.
Moments after gunmen bombed an armoured cash-in-transit truck on the N12 in Mondeor, Johannesburg, they hijacked a woman in a BMW, kidnapped her and forced her at gunpoint to drive them towards Soweto on Saturday morning.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the suspects got out near Diepkloof and ran towards other getaway vehicles. "Air support and a multidisciplinary team have been activated to search for at least 15 to 20 suspects who got away with an undisclosed amount of money during the CIT heist. Maximum resources have been mobilised following a CIT heist," Mathe said.
Police said four guards attached to Fidelity were injured during the heist and taken to hospital."One sustained gunshot wounds while the others sustained injuries after the cash vehicle overturned before being bombed by the suspects," said Mathe.
WATCH | Three cash-in-transit heists in three days: Four suspects killed in shootout with KZN police
Police asked people in Gauteng to be on the lookout for suspects travelling in a black Golf 8 GTI, a blue BMW X6, a white Mitsubishi Pajero, a black Range Rover and a white Toyota Fortuner.
Police are investigating cases of hijacking and kidnapping, cash-in-transit robbery and attempted murder.
"Communities are once again reminded not to pick up money from CIT crime scenes as this amounts to theft and defeating the ends of justice."CIT scenes are dangerous and can pose a risk to lives as explosives are often used to blow up these cash vans," said Mathe.
?? Traffic Advisory ??All lanes on N12 East btw the Diepkloof & Uncle Charlies I/C, Aeroton & 2x right lanes on the N12 West are closed off to traffic due to a crime scene (CIT). Police are on the scene. Except heavy delays & use alternative routes #JHBTraffic #JoburgRoadSafety pic.twitter.com/AsZd362mws
— Jo'burg Metro Police Department - JMPD (@JoburgMPD) October 7, 2023
News24 previously reported that scores of people abandoned their cars and rushed toward the blast site to grab money moments after gunmen bombed the cash-in-transit truck.
Footage of the incident shows a burning cash truck and people running down an embankment to the scene.The armoured car is understood to have been forced to a halt by several vehicles. Once stationary, gunmen laid explosive charges and blew open safes.
Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said at the time the freeway had been closed to allow police to examine the crime scene.
*This story has been updated.
