ATM robbers leave empty handed
The robbers who caused chaos during a raid on a bank of ATMs in KwaDakuza have nothing to show for their efforts.
|||Durban -The heavily armed robbers who scared off police, shot an officer in the groin, hijacked security vehicles and tied up the guards during a raid on a bank of ATMs in KwaDakuza (Stanger) have nothing to show for their efforts.
Police confirmed in a statement on Wednesday night that the robbers escaped empty handed.
The drama unfolded shortly after 1.30am on Wednesday, when a gang of about 20 to 30 armed bandits, using the cover of darkness, stormed six ATMs on King Shaka Street in the KwaDakuza city centre.
Police said the gang, some wearing balaclavas, shot a policewoman in the groin and were able to overpower four private security guards who responded to the robbery.
The gang assaulted the private security guards, tied them up and took their firearms. They also stole the policewoman’s firearm.
The policewoman is in a serious condition in hospital.
The gang, armed with assault rifles, used the private security company’s vehicle to “patrol” the area, setting up a perimeter – in case other security arrived – while others wired the ATMs with explosives.
According to a police source, the first police responders sped away when they saw the gang. “It was chaos... You have to feel for those officers; they are armed with handguns and when they arrived, they were immediately charged at by rifle-wielding suspects. Outgunned and outmanned, what could they have done?” he said.
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said the robbery was well organised.
“At around 1.30am, police responded to a robbery in progress. There were more than 20 armed robbers that had blown up six ATMs. A policewoman was shot in the groin and taken to hospital.”
The robbers, who had arrived in six vehicles, escaped in various directions, he said.
“The quick reaction by the police prevented the suspects from taking the money,” Zwane said.
The attack comes after several similar robberies in KwaZulu-Natal in recent months where ATM’s have been targeted.
Most of the attacks have occurred after midnight.
Dr Chris de Kock, former head of police crime information analysis centre, said the police and the public should brace themselves for a spike in ATM robberies over the next few weeks.
“Statistics show that there is an increase in this type of crime in the festive period because criminals know there is more cash circulating as people start planning for Christmas, and they also want to make more money for Christmas. What we do tend to see with these crimes is that there is a huge spike leading to Christmas, and then straight thereafter it drops dramatically in January and February. It’s as if the robbers go on holiday,” he said.
De Kock said the gangs carrying out the ATM robberies could be linked to Cash-in Transit (CIT) robbery syndicates.
“What happens is that if they feel that the CITs are too high risk, they will target ATMs, which are considered softer targets. It could be the very same guys that were doing CITs that have now shifted to ATM bombing,” he said.
On Wednesday, police cordoned off a section of King Shaka Street while investigators combed the scene.
Several businesses, including four large chain stores and a jewellery store, did not open.
A police source said the CCTV camera positioned at the corner of King Shaka and Chief Albert Luthuli streets was the investigators’ best hope of identifying the gang.
“The cameras have a clear view of the entire area. Hopefully, it has captured something,” the source said.
Daily News
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