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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 that send civilians cover themselves.
Urban attacks, often by day, broadcast on social media, amplify concerns in a country fighting a high rate of violent crime.
Authorities reinforce intelligence and other efforts to tackle heavily armed gangs. to have specific 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 hitting with military precision."
They could get help from rogue police, and local media reported the possible use of military weapons stolen from burglaries.
There were 75 attacks on vehicles carrying money. Kalyani Pillay, CEO of the South African Banking Risk Information Center, or SABRIC. Two civilians, a police officer, five guards and nine suspects were killed in this year's robberies and another 93 people were injured, said Pillay
robbers carrying out such burglaries robbed 63% more of them. money this year than at the same time. 2017, according to Pillay. She declined to say how much, even though the amount is estimated to be at least several million dollars.
Unions representing workers involved in the transportation of money demonstrated in June for more protection at work. A parliamentary committee held a hearing on the attacks.
Meanwhile, the rate of attacks against security guards carrying money on foot between, for example, a company and a vehicle dropped. This suggests that criminal organizations 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, because of the overwhelming firepower or the lack of police information
. 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 the police chase after stealing an armored car.
Today, burglar teams in South Africa can count from 10 to 15 people. blow up 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 intersection, shows smoke rising after an explosion. Three strokes are heard.
"Oh my god, look how many of them are coming out," said a woman as suspects emerge from a car.
A third video of the consequences shows a security van and badly damaged bank notes.
During raids last week, police arrested a policewoman 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.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele said that more needs to be done to stop "crimes of origin". "Including car hijacking, illegal gun sales and police corruption.Security companies, meanwhile, can do more with the technology, including the dye that colors the money. "There is a robbery or a foam that automatically covers money." According to Abramjee, the anti-crime activist, it is estimated that about 200 people would be in the vanguard of the attacks. in South Africa, the Fidelity Security Group said in response to questions from the Associated Press Press: There have been 27 attacks against Fidelity vans this year and just under half have been "defended with The company said it spent millions of dollars to modernize the vehicles, increase training and take action. other measures against the threat
"Unfortunately, "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
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