Eastern Cape police are investigating a case of theft after two “cleaners” allegedly made off with millions of rands from a cash-in-transit company in East London last week.
The men were temporarily employed at SBV security company in Arcadia when they carried out the crime.
It is still unclear if anyone else was involved in the theft, but sources in the company believe they may have received inside help.
This is allegedly the second incident of theft to hit the company this year alone.
In an incident earlier this year, according to a source in the company, two employees were suspended for stealing R250000 and R100000 respectively.
East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed that two men had been arrested over the latest theft.
“We confirm that East London police arrested two men accused of stealing an undisclosed substantial amount of money from a company based in Arcadia East London,” Tana said.
“The case was reported on April 1 and the accused – Luyanda Cengani, 30, and Mkhenkesi Moyiko, 53 – were arrested last week and have appeared briefly in the East London Magistrate’s Court for bail application. They were remanded in custody.
“The question of whether they are investigated for other cases is part of investigation and cannot be discussed at this stage.”
No response to inquiries had been received from SBV at the time of writing.
A police source told the Dispatch that a woman who is close to one of the suspected cleaners was also taken in for questioning last week after cash, new furniture and building material was found at her home.
The police source further said that between R1.7-million and R2-million was taken from the premises.
“It is not clear how the money was taken from the supposedly secure centre,” the source said, adding the money was stolen by “cleaners”.
A source at SBV said the two hired cleaners were employed to do “a special job”, but later managed to sneak out of the premises with the cash in secured money bags.
It is alleged the two were not hired through normal procedures. The company usually hires staff through an employment broker, but this was not done.
The employee said the theft had left many staff at the facility puzzled as security was tight, with access control and security cameras.
“How these people managed to get out with the money is something the senior management are trying to figure out,” the employee said.
“This is impossible. We suspect an inside job.”
The SBV centre in East London is visibly secured with security cameras, high walls and electric fencing.
The two main gates have armed guards on duty 24 hours a day.
“The place is very secured and we are searched every time we are coming in and out of the premises. There is not a single day that we can say we have lax security, they are trained to do their work. A person within the company knows what happened here,” the source said.
Tana said police had also recovered some of the stolen money.
“Police are also still looking forward for more recoveries.”
Cash-in-transit firm loses millions
The men were temporarily employed at SBV security company in Arcadia when they carried out the crime.
It is still unclear if anyone else was involved in the theft, but sources in the company believe they may have received inside help.
This is allegedly the second incident of theft to hit the company this year alone.
In an incident earlier this year, according to a source in the company, two employees were suspended for stealing R250000 and R100000 respectively.
East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed that two men had been arrested over the latest theft.
“We confirm that East London police arrested two men accused of stealing an undisclosed substantial amount of money from a company based in Arcadia East London,” Tana said.
“The case was reported on April 1 and the accused – Luyanda Cengani, 30, and Mkhenkesi Moyiko, 53 – were arrested last week and have appeared briefly in the East London Magistrate’s Court for bail application. They were remanded in custody.
“The question of whether they are investigated for other cases is part of investigation and cannot be discussed at this stage.”
No response to inquiries had been received from SBV at the time of writing.
A police source told the Dispatch that a woman who is close to one of the suspected cleaners was also taken in for questioning last week after cash, new furniture and building material was found at her home.
The police source further said that between R1.7-million and R2-million was taken from the premises.
“It is not clear how the money was taken from the supposedly secure centre,” the source said, adding the money was stolen by “cleaners”.
A source at SBV said the two hired cleaners were employed to do “a special job”, but later managed to sneak out of the premises with the cash in secured money bags.
It is alleged the two were not hired through normal procedures. The company usually hires staff through an employment broker, but this was not done.
The employee said the theft had left many staff at the facility puzzled as security was tight, with access control and security cameras.
“How these people managed to get out with the money is something the senior management are trying to figure out,” the employee said.
“This is impossible. We suspect an inside job.”
The SBV centre in East London is visibly secured with security cameras, high walls and electric fencing.
The two main gates have armed guards on duty 24 hours a day.
“The place is very secured and we are searched every time we are coming in and out of the premises. There is not a single day that we can say we have lax security, they are trained to do their work. A person within the company knows what happened here,” the source said.
Tana said police had also recovered some of the stolen money.
“Police are also still looking forward for more recoveries.”
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