Manhunt launched by the police following cash-in-transit heist

POTCHEFSTROOM – Police have launched a manhunt following a cash-in-transit heist that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, 31 December 2024. It is alleged that a cash-in-transit van with two security officers inside, was travelling from Moruleng village to Mogwase at about 18:00. Along the way, at Letsheng section, just before the van could go over a speed hump, it was blocked by a Mercedes Benz sedan that came from the side road.   According to information received, a number of heavily armed suspects emerged and started firing shots at the escort vehicle that came to a halt not far from the scene and the crew managed to flee unharmed. Another BMW vehicle blocked the road for other road users. The two security officers inside the cash van were forced out of the van at gunpoint and robbed of their firearms. An unconfirmed number of suspects used explosives to blow up the cash van and took an undisclosed amount of cash. Moreover, the Mercedes Benz and the cash van caught fire as a result of explosives and the suspects fled from the scene driving in three vehicles that included a BMW, a white Toyota Fortuner and a white Ford Ranger double cab bakkie. No one sustained injuries during the incident and the suspects are unknown and still at large. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) is investigating.