News24 reports that statistics from the Cash-In-Transit Association of SA (Citasa) reveal that cash-in-transit (CIT) heists increased by 19% in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Citasa's Grant Clark said 43% of CIT robberies occurred in Gauteng, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 21%, while 36% of the CIT robberies took place on Mondays. He went on to indicate: "Large groups of perpetrators, up to 30 individuals, frequently make use of explosives and high calibre firearms during these attacks. These criminal acts are becoming more violent, with no regard for life or property." Yet despite the statistics provided by Citasa, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said cash heists were on a downward trend. "This can be attributed to concerted efforts to intensify the fight against serious and violent crime through an integrated crime combatting approach and the close collaboration between the SAPS and CIT companies," Mathe claimed. An independent researcher on CIT heists and Crime Intelligence, Hennie Lochner, pointed out that the robberies were planned well in advance – even as far as 16 months ahead. "Cash-in-transit robberies are a business... it's a job, so they try to execute the robbery with the least effort, the least people to split the loot. They will leave a truck carrying 20 million and hit the one with 12 million, because the split is bigger," Lochner said. He noted that only two things stopped cash-in-transit robberies from taking place – visible policing on the day or police and security company helicopters.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 (subscriber access only)
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