SAPS Beefs Up Task Teams to Tackle Rise of C-I-T Robberies
The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it has ‘beefed up’ cash-in-transit task teams, particularly in Eastern Cape, after a spate of robberies.
In the past month, 13 suspects have been arrested in the province and a further six were fatally wounded during a confrontation with police. Five suspects linked to a C-I-T robbery were traced to their hide-out in Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape a few hours after targeting a cash van transporting an undisclosed amount of money between East London and Macleantown on the N6, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola stated in an update on countrywide policing operations.
At the scene, police seized eight weapons including AK47 and R5 rifles. The TAPA EMEA Intelligence System (TIS) has received reports of 280 cash-in-transit robberies in South Africa in the two years up to 31 July 2024.
General Masemola also reported the arrests of another 13 suspects linked to ‘blue light’ gangs operating along major routes, including the N1, N3 and N4 highways. While cash is clearly a prime target for criminals in South Africa, most crimes reported to TIS state the goods stolen as only miscellaneous or unspecified. Nonetheless, in the last 2 years, 11 TIS product categories have recorded double-digit or higher incident rates, notably:
- Phones – 263 reported cargo thefts
- Metal – 98 incidents
- Food & Drink – 74
- Fuel – 72
- Pharmaceuticals – 63
- Miscellaneous Electronics – 56
- Tobacco products – 44
- No Load (Theft of truck and/or trailer) – 141
- Automotive Parts – 19
- Tyres – 15
- Clothing & Footwear – 13
If you see a media report or receive information on a cargo crime in South Africa, please send the link to… tisteam@tapaemea.org
