A dramatic shootout between law enforcement and cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers in Germiston on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of six suspects.
Story summary:
- Six suspects involved in a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Germiston were shot and killed during a shootout with police.
- Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, four handguns, and the stolen cash trolley from the scene.
- Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni warned criminals, saying law enforcement is prepared to respond to crime with force.
Germiston cash-in-transit heist ends in bloodshed
The suspects were fatally wounded after engaging police in a gunfight following an attempted heist.
Authorities received intelligence that a cross-pavement robbery was imminent in the Germiston CBD.
A multi-disciplinary team, including members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), SAPS Gauteng Tactical Response Team (TRT), the Anti-Gang Unit, and other specialised operations units, was dispatched to the area.
According to police, the suspects targeted a G4S cash delivery service outside Top Bets, where they attempted to steal a cash trolley.
A lookout was issued for a Hyundai IX35 vehicle, believed to be involved in the robbery. Police spotted the vehicle driving recklessly and attempted to intercept it.
The suspects immediately opened fire, prompting a return of gunfire from the police.
During the shootout, the suspects’ vehicle lost control and crashed into a pole.
Six suspects were killed at the scene, and one was seriously injured.
Among the weapons recovered were an AK-47 rifle and four handguns, as well as the stolen cash trolley.
The vehicle used in the heist was later identified as stolen from the Brooklyn area.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni visited the scene of the shootout, praising the swift response by law enforcement. Mthombeni stated,
“We are up for them, we will meet them on the streets,” sending a strong message to criminals that the police would continue to respond with force when their lives are threatened.
This operation follows a broader strategy of intensified crime prevention in the province, similar to efforts seen in KwaZulu-Natal under Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mthombeni confirmed that Gauteng police will adopt a similar no-nonsense approach, vowing to respond decisively to any violent threats posed by criminals.
