Two SBV security guards were treated in Life St Dominic’s hospital in East London yesterday after they were shot and injured by a gang of six men before their assault rifles and millions of rands belonging to various banks were stolen yesterday morning.
The dramatic cash-in-transit heist and abduction began at Southernwood’s Malcomess Mall before ending 600m away in the narrow one-way Usher Street where the security guards were dumped, alongside their abandoned and empty cash truck.
This was confirmed by Malcomess centre manager Eric Moss, who said the gang struck at the mall’s Absa branch around 7am, abducting the guards and driving them away in the cash van. “They shot one of the guards in front of the Absa branch, disarmed them, and got into the vehicle with the guards and drove off via St George’s Street,” Moss said.
“I believe the money they took is around millions of rands because it was meant for different banks. The SBV van was parked here in front of the Absa bank as normal getting ready to deliver cash to this Absa bank.”
Moss said the gang shot one of the guards who was 10m outside the truck, injuring him in his upper body, and then disarmed all three guards.”
Yesterday East London spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed the incident but said it was not registered on their system at the time because the police were still at the scene. “We can confirm that the incident happened but we are still working on the scene. Once the case is registered we will then forward the docket to the Organised Crime Unit.”
Absa regional spokesman Johnny Alcock said customers and employees of Absa who were near the robbery were not injured. Asked about the money stolen Alcock said: “We are in no position to disclose the amount”.
In a brief statement, SBV’s group CEO Grant Dunnington said two of their three officers received minor wounds.
Dunnington said the attack took place in the early hours of this morning .
“A crew of three SBV Services protection officers was attacked by an unknown number of suspects while servicing an ATM in the Southernwood area,” he said.
“Two protection officers sustained minor injuries while defending the attack and the suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Dunnington wished the two SBV team members who were injured in this morning’s attack, a speedy recovery.
“We are working with the authorities on the investigation of this attack and stand firm in our efforts to ensure that the individuals responsible are brought to justice.”
He said that SBV made ongoing investments in technology, security systems and vehicles.
“Furthermore, our professional investigations team works closely with the authorities and we support them in their efforts to fight against those who threaten our industry and society at large. “We will not spare any resources in the fight against crime.”
Residents in Usher Street told the Saturday Dispatch they were woken by sirens and flashing blue police lights before 8am.
Leeann Strydom, 39, said: “I sleep with my earplugs in but I got woken by my vibrating phone. “It was a friend telling me about a cash truck dumped in front of my house.”
Strydom said when she opened her door, she was greeted by a strong police presence and the cash truck.
“I didn’t know what to do so I just waved at them.”
Strydom said although people did get shot and stabbed in the street, she had never seen anything like what she saw.
Neighbour Amila Malata, 39, said she was glad her children were away for school holidays.
“The blue lights were shining through my windows so I couldn’t sleep otherwise I didn’t see or hear a thing as far as the actual incident.”
The mall is no stranger to some of the most violent crimes and tragic events.
lOn February 7 an ATM card-cloning suspect was grabbed by angry members of the public and given a severe beating inside the mall in front of terrified shoppers, including children.
lOn Friday April 7, on-duty mall security guard Zukile Mhlakaza, 25, was killed with a punch to his head by a drunk customer.
Mhlakaza, who had been trying stop a fight over parking, was killed two hours after he received a call from his mother telling him that his brother in Cape Town had been murdered.
lOn May 4, Debonairs pizza parlour was hit by a heavily-armed 12-member gang believed to be from Port Elizabeth. It was the store’s third armed robbery in two years; and
lOn May 25, a newborn baby was found dumped inside a rubbish bin outside Tops liquor store. The child was dead. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Millions stolen in SBV cash heist
The dramatic cash-in-transit heist and abduction began at Southernwood’s Malcomess Mall before ending 600m away in the narrow one-way Usher Street where the security guards were dumped, alongside their abandoned and empty cash truck.
This was confirmed by Malcomess centre manager Eric Moss, who said the gang struck at the mall’s Absa branch around 7am, abducting the guards and driving them away in the cash van. “They shot one of the guards in front of the Absa branch, disarmed them, and got into the vehicle with the guards and drove off via St George’s Street,” Moss said.
“I believe the money they took is around millions of rands because it was meant for different banks. The SBV van was parked here in front of the Absa bank as normal getting ready to deliver cash to this Absa bank.”
Moss said the gang shot one of the guards who was 10m outside the truck, injuring him in his upper body, and then disarmed all three guards.”
Yesterday East London spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed the incident but said it was not registered on their system at the time because the police were still at the scene. “We can confirm that the incident happened but we are still working on the scene. Once the case is registered we will then forward the docket to the Organised Crime Unit.”
Absa regional spokesman Johnny Alcock said customers and employees of Absa who were near the robbery were not injured. Asked about the money stolen Alcock said: “We are in no position to disclose the amount”.
In a brief statement, SBV’s group CEO Grant Dunnington said two of their three officers received minor wounds.
Dunnington said the attack took place in the early hours of this morning .
“A crew of three SBV Services protection officers was attacked by an unknown number of suspects while servicing an ATM in the Southernwood area,” he said.
“Two protection officers sustained minor injuries while defending the attack and the suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Dunnington wished the two SBV team members who were injured in this morning’s attack, a speedy recovery.
“We are working with the authorities on the investigation of this attack and stand firm in our efforts to ensure that the individuals responsible are brought to justice.”
He said that SBV made ongoing investments in technology, security systems and vehicles.
“Furthermore, our professional investigations team works closely with the authorities and we support them in their efforts to fight against those who threaten our industry and society at large. “We will not spare any resources in the fight against crime.”
Residents in Usher Street told the Saturday Dispatch they were woken by sirens and flashing blue police lights before 8am.
Leeann Strydom, 39, said: “I sleep with my earplugs in but I got woken by my vibrating phone. “It was a friend telling me about a cash truck dumped in front of my house.”
Strydom said when she opened her door, she was greeted by a strong police presence and the cash truck.
“I didn’t know what to do so I just waved at them.”
Strydom said although people did get shot and stabbed in the street, she had never seen anything like what she saw.
Neighbour Amila Malata, 39, said she was glad her children were away for school holidays.
“The blue lights were shining through my windows so I couldn’t sleep otherwise I didn’t see or hear a thing as far as the actual incident.”
The mall is no stranger to some of the most violent crimes and tragic events.
lOn February 7 an ATM card-cloning suspect was grabbed by angry members of the public and given a severe beating inside the mall in front of terrified shoppers, including children.
lOn Friday April 7, on-duty mall security guard Zukile Mhlakaza, 25, was killed with a punch to his head by a drunk customer.
Mhlakaza, who had been trying stop a fight over parking, was killed two hours after he received a call from his mother telling him that his brother in Cape Town had been murdered.
lOn May 4, Debonairs pizza parlour was hit by a heavily-armed 12-member gang believed to be from Port Elizabeth. It was the store’s third armed robbery in two years; and
lOn May 25, a newborn baby was found dumped inside a rubbish bin outside Tops liquor store. The child was dead. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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