Cash-in-transit (CIT) heist suspects stole a police van and used it as a getaway vehicle when they were cornered by police during a dramatic shootout in the Western Cape on Monday evening.
A pursuit of the suspects followed, ending with them crashing the stolen van and being apprehended by officers.
Speaking to News24, the office of the National Police Commissioner confirmed that two suspects – aged 37 and 43 respectively – were arrested for allegedly being part of the heist, which took place in Klapmuts.
“The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on the R44 but as they reached Cloetesville [near Stellenbosch] they were cornered by members of the SAPS who were responding to this robbery,” the office said. “A shootout ensued but the brazen suspects abandoned their vehicle in front of Cloetesville police station and jumped into a police van and sped off.”
The suspects lost control of the vehicle during the chase and crashed. They then fled from the van and ran in different directions in an effort to confuse the authorities. In the end, the getaway vehicle was hijacked by some of the suspects that escaped.
A search for the escaped suspects is ongoing. Police recovered two assault rifles, a revolver and a bag with money containing an undisclosed amount of cash after the chase.
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