Two suspects were fatally wounded in a shootout with police at New Glasgow, Verulam on Friday, 4 October. One of the suspects was the 55-year-old suspected mastermind of at least 23 cash in transit robberies.
During an intelligence-led operation, police tracked down the suspect’s vehicle on New Glasgow main road. Police Spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda said: “When police signalled for the suspects’ vehicle to stop, a white single cab bakkie sped off, while a silver sedan pulled over. The passenger started firing shots at the police. Police returned fire and during the shootout, two suspects were shot and fatally wounded.”
They were found in possession of two firearms, a pistol and a rifle. “Preliminary investigations confirmed that the rifle was stolen during a cash in transit robbery that happened in Verulam in August, 2024. The pistol, whose serial number was erased, was found to be a police issued firearm,” said Col Netshiunda.
The 55-year-old suspect had a warrant of arrest issued by the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court in May this year, regarding a charge of conspiracy to commit a cash in transit robbery that was allegedly committed 2022. Col Netshiunda said: “He is also linked to at least 23 cases of cash in transit robberies. A manhunt for the other suspects who escaped arrest is underway.”
Verulam experienced a plague of cash in transit robberies recently. In August, suspects traveling in two bakkies, armed with high calibre rifles opened fire on a cash in transit vehicle on Vincent Dickenson Road in the Cottonlands. The suspects robbed the security officers of a rifle and a 9mm pistol before using explosives to blow up the cash in transit vehicle and escape with several bags of cash.
In June, members of RUSA and SAPS received reports of a cash in transit robbery on the N2’s north bound lane. Upon arriving at the scene, it was established that approximately 20 suspects carrying high calibre rifles opened fire on a vehicle transporting cash. Several collisions occurred after motorists attempted to steer clear of the gunfire, however no injuries were reported. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash prior to the arrival of first responders.
This follows a similar incident in April when a driver of a cash in transit vehicle was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and a service pistol, en-route to the depot in Westville with his crew. According to reports, while on the R102 between Ottawa and Verulam, he heard gunshots and thereafter noticed a brown vehicle with four masked occupants weilding rifles.
