Targeted vans in shameless robberies in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG – Criminal syndicates in South Africa have increased attacks on security trucks carrying large sums of money, brazenly opening fire and detonating vehicles in chaotic scenes where civilians rush to shelter

often day attacks and publish images on social media, amplifying concerns in a country that struggles with a high rate of violent crime.

Authorities stimulate intelligence and other efforts to tackle heavily armed gangs. roles: shooter, watchman, driver.

"It's almost as if everyone had their own skill," said Yusuf Abramjee, a South African anti-crime activist. "These people are striking with military precision."

They could get help from rogue police, and local media reported the possible use of stolen military weapons in some cases of theft .

There were 75 attacks on vehicles carrying species. Kalyani Pillay, CEO of the South African Banking Risk Information Center (SABRIC), said this year, compared with 31 for the same period in 2017. Two civilians, a police officer, five guards and nine suspects have were killed in this year's robberies and another 93 people were injured, said Pillay.

Thieves conducting such flights stole 63 percent year only in the same period in 2017, according to Pillay. She declined to say how much, although the amount is estimated to be at least several million dollars

Unions representing workers involved in the transportation of money organized demonstrations in major cities in June for more than protection at work. "Stop bombarding our crates," reading a sign during a march in Cape Town

A parliamentary commission held a hearing on the attacks.

Meanwhile, the rate of attacks against security guards carrying For example, a company and a vehicle dropped

. This suggests that criminal syndicates are looking for more vehicles on the road because they are likely to bring in more loot – and that thieves think they can get away with it, partly because of the heavy losses. firepower. Security experts say the police, whose response was sometimes poor in the past, is more proactive.

Heist's methods have varied over the years. In 1997, thieves in Bronkhorstspruit dragged a chain of crampons on a highway to block a pickup truck and killed two guards. The hit recalls a scene from the 1995 movie "Heat" in which a gang uses a crampon band to thwart a police chase after stealing a armored car .

Today, burglar teams in South Africa from 10 to 15 people who opened armored security vehicles with commercial explosives possibly diverted from the mining industry. The teams seem comfortable to move in overcrowded areas.

The video of an attack on security trucks in May in Boksburg, near Johannesburg, shows a man with a long rifle, apparently a vigil, kneeling at an intersection. An explosion is heard and gunshots crackle. Some motorists rush to turn around to escape the scene.

A separate video of the same attack, filmed from what appears to be a car showroom at the same crossover, shows smoke rising after an explosion. Three strokes are heard.

"Oh my God, look how many of them are coming out," says a woman as suspects emerge from a car.

A third video of the suites shows a security van and badly damaged bank notes.

During raids last week, police arrested a police officer who allegedly stored weapons used in the Boksburg robbery, as well as her 32-year-old boyfriend. Nearly two dozen people were arrested as part of this move.

Gangs involved in such hold-ups include people from neighboring countries including Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

. Stop related "fueling crimes", including car theft, illegal sale of firearms and police corruption. Security companies, meanwhile, can do more with technology, including dye that colors the money if there is a robbery or foam that automatically covers the money. According to Abramjee, the anti-crime activist, it is estimated that about 200 people would be at the forefront of attacks in South Africa, said a security company in response to Associated questions. Press. Press. There have been 27 attacks against vans of the Fidelity Security group this year and just under half have been "successfully defended," the statement said. Four employees were killed and 55 were injured.

The company said that she spent millions of dollars to modernize vehicles, increase training and take other measures against the threat

"Unfortunately, the air, the modus operandi of criminals is changing too, "said Fidelity.

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Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris

Chris Torchia, The Associated Press