CIT ROBBERIES REDUCED BY 63%

THE scourge of cash in transit (CIT) robberies has become a topical matter in the last three months of May, June and July.

South Africa has been plagued with serious and violent crimes, particularly aggravated robberies, which has instilled fear and terror in the innocent, vulnerable and law-abiding citizens of our country.

Following an unprecedented spate of attacks on cash in transit vehicles in May this year, the National Commissioner of Police and Police Minister Bheki Cele pronounced on nationwide stabilisation interventions to curb and do away with serious crimes, particularly CIT Robberies.

While reporting back on the progress of the project, Cele said he was satisfied with the progress however the fight with these criminals, he said, was not yet over.

He further announced that, from April 15 to June 1, cash in transit robberies have declined by 63% compared to six weeks prior to April 15. This significant reduction, Cele said, may be attributed to high density, multi-disciplinary stabilisation operations.

He said the operational approach is based on the tried and tested method of the multi-disciplinary integration of intelligence, operational processes, resources, competencies and capabilities from all operational environments of SAPS with dedicated and centralised command structures in order to address the identified threat in a result driven and holistic manner.

“These stabilisations have not only dealt a significant blow to CIT robberies but they were also designed to address the issues of gangsterism, political violence, wildlife trafficking, murder incidents, cross border operations and other crime categories.”

“As part of Crime Intelligence’s intervention on gangsterism, 85 high profile targets have been identified.

There are several other priority targets that are currently being addressed in various areas, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape,” said Cele.

On Wednesday, July 25, two people were arrested in a major drug operation in Harding, KwaZulu-Natal.

A multi-disciplinary team comprising of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Port Shepstone’s TRT and K9 discovered a huge clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratory which was window dressed as a farm.

“Going forward, we will be profiling farmsteads so we know what is happening as part of our rural safety strategy,” he said. — Supplied