[ad_1]
Crime scene following a theft of cash in transit in Krugersdorp.
PHOTO: Sharon Seretlo / Gallo Images
- The Gauteng provincial police commissioner made an urgent engagement with CIT stakeholders on Wednesday.
- Fidelity and G4S were identified as the most affected.
- Two CIT thefts have been reported in the last two days.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lt. General Elias Mawela says there has been a worrying increase in cash-in-transit (CIT) thefts this holiday season, compared to last year.
On Wednesday, Mawela, along with his deputy Major General Tommy Mthombeni and Hawks Provincial Chief Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, held an urgent meeting with stakeholders from the mutual fund transport industry following the recent series of robberies in the province.
Gauteng Police spokesman Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said:
Comparing the incident occurrence rate this year to last year’s rate, Lt. Gen. Mawela confirmed that there is a worrying increase in the rate and frequency of incidents of cash theft in transit in Gauteng and that intervention and attention is required. urgent of all. concerned parties.
Peters said Fidelity and G4S were identified as the worst hit. Mawela said there was a need to review and strengthen strategies by CIT law enforcement and stakeholders in responding to or anticipating these incidents.
“When addressing CIT thefts, we need to take into account the fact that several secondary crimes emanate from these thefts and this ultimately has a bearing on the overall crime landscape of the province,” Mawela said.
“A CIT theft can result, at the end of the day, in the recording of additional crimes, such as intentional damage to property related to the armored vehicle; attempted murder and murder, where in some cases security guards, members of the police and / or suspects have been shot and injured or killed, theft of money, kidnapping for the escape of suspects and other crimes, “he said.
READ ALSO | Four shots fired during a theft of cash in transit in Cape Town
Mawela said that all stakeholders and law enforcement agencies must create a values-based relationship to tackle “this emerging urban terror.”
Meanwhile, police have yet to confirm the latest CIT theft, which took place on Wednesday, on the N12 near the Diepkloof interchange.
They are also on the hunt for 15 people involved in a CIT heist on the outskirts of Pretoria on Tuesday.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
