Another heist at JNB

[4HolerPoler]

Yet another one.

[quote]Multi-million rand theft at airport

Johannesburg - Police are searching for a gang of men following a multi-million rand armed robbery of US dollars, diamonds and jewellery from a cargo depot near Johannesburg International Airport on Thursday morning.

At about 08:00 the gang of between five and eight men held up three security guards who were inspecting a cargo that had arrived from Amsterdam earlier, Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said in a media statement.

The men forced the guards to load the cargo onto a white Nissan one-ton truck.

As they drove out of the premises, one of the robbers shot a woman security guard, who was approaching the truck, in the leg with an AK-47 rifle.

The truck and a grey Toyota Conquest that was waiting outside the depot drove off, and have not been located.

The robbers got away with R9.5 million in US dollars, $93 000 worth of diamonds and $8 000 worth of jewellery.

The cash was destined for Angola while the diamonds and jewellery was for a South African company.

The security guards are being questioned by police.<hr></blockquote>

[B Sousa]

They have Crime.........Because they allow it......

[[email protected]]

The problem with this place is the loonies are running the mad house

[4HolerPoler]

For the record:

[quote]Airport robber shot dead


Johannesburg - Police on Saturday shot dead a man thought to be one of the gang members responsible for the multi-million rand armed robbery of US dollars, diamonds and jewellery from a cargo depot near Johannesburg International Airport on Thursday.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said a 37-year-old man was shot outside his sister's house in Dawn Park, Boksburg in the early hours of Saturday morning when he tried to resist arrest.

"Police fired several warning shots, then shot him as he was climbing over a wall," Martins-Engelbrecht said. The alleged robber died at the scene.

Police recovered two stolen BMWs - one of which was stolen in Pretoria in November.

She said police were questioning the dead man's brother-in-law, a resident of the Dawn Park house.

Three of the Johannesburg International Airport security guards taken into custody on Thursday were still being held, Martins-Engelbrecht said.<hr></blockquote>

[B Sousa]

I am surprised, it actually looks like they are going after the bad guys. Usually on something like this so many folks have their hands in the Pie that the large amount dwindles rapidly in payoffs.
You know for sure that something of this magnitude wasnt planned in a Soweto livingroom.
If SA gets a grip on the Crime there, its going to cost me more to travel. That is the best kept secret for beautiful country in the world. I really dont think the Government has a clue.

[The Guvnor]

From today's SA Sunday Times. Looks like now Mugabe (officially Mampara of the Year, btw) has nicked everything worth anything in Zim, he's turned his eyes south...

[quote]Zimbabwe link to huge heist
MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA

SOUTH Africa's biggest heist, of more than R115-million in foreign currency, diamonds and jewellery at Johannesburg International Airport last week, was masterminded by Zimbabweans.

Police say that criminals from neighbouring countries and local gangsters were behind the brazen daylight robbery of US9.5-million (about R115-million), diamonds worth R1.1-million and jewellery worth R97 000 from a cargo depot last Thursday.

South Africa's police commissioner, Jackie Selebi, has appointed a heavyweight team - consisting of the Special Investigations Unit, the Serious and Violent Crime Unit and other Gauteng police units - to hunt the slick gang who snatched their haul and escaped in minutes.

There has been a spate of armed robberies at the airport in the past six months. More than 11.5 million passengers pass through the airport every year.

In July there were three separate armed robberies at the airport in which attackers escaped with guns, radios and cellphones.

In August seven robbers with assault rifles and handguns stole a large sum in US dollars after gaining access to a restricted runway area while cash was being offloaded from a Swissair plane.

In September a Lufthansa employee was shot dead during a botched armed robbery while money was being taken off an aircraft.

Director Bushy Engelbrecht, commander of the Special Investigations Unit, said on Friday that police suspected that citizens of neighbouring Southern African countries were involved in last week's heist.

"It is alleged that some of the suspects are from neighbouring countries. If this is true, or if South African suspects have tried to flee across the border, we will cooperate with police in neighbouring countries and find them," he said.

The Sunday Times has established that some of the gang members were from Zimbabwe.

It has also been established that a truck used to haul the loot away had entered the airport one day before the robbery.

A second getaway vehicle joined the truck after the robbery, carried out by up to 12 men.

The robbers forced three security guards to load the cash, diamonds and jewellery - which had arrived on a flight from Amsterdam - onto the truck. They shot an airport security guard in one of his legs during their getaway.

Last month the Sunday Times revealed that the Airports Company of South Africa had fired its private security company, Khuselani Security and Risk Management, because it had allegedly failed to ensure the safety of passengers at Johannesburg International Airport.

The company was axed after several security breaches at the airport and was temporarily replaced by Khulani Fidelity Services Group.

Three guards were arrested after the robbery but released on Monday, when they appeared in court, due to a lack of evidence.

Two days after the heist, police shot dead Nkwe Leonard Motsweneng, who was allegedly part of the gang, outside his sister's house in Dawn Park, Boksburg.

A police spokes man, Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht, said: "Police fired several warning shots, then shot him as he was climbing over a wall."

Another suspect, employed by Johannesburg International Airport's Apron Services, was arrested on Wednesday.

Gert van Wyk, 34, will appear in court again next week in connection with the heist. <hr></blockquote>

[B Sousa]

Gert Van Wyk??? Does not sound like some illegal living in a squatter camp.
As with any of these events its apparent that inside information and planning was at hand. There is no doubt that these Robberies could be curtailed, but until proper measures are taken they will continue.

[4HolerPoler]

Latest:

[quote]Airport security firm. .in fraud probe

Johannesburg - Police are investigating a multimillion-rand fraud case against the security company that was fired from Johannesburg International Airport after its guards were found asleep on duty, the Sunday Times reported.

In a dramatic swoop on Friday, South African Revenue Service auditors froze Khuselani Security and Risk Management's bank account, the report said.

The company had a R99 million contract to safeguard airports.

The auditors then went to the police to make a fraud complaint against Khuselani.

The Sunday Times has obtained a copy of the auditors' sworn statement.

According to the report the statement alleged that a VAT assessment found that Khuselani owed SA Revenue Services up to R12 million; somebody tried to transfer R850 000 from Khuselani's bank account into a private account on Friday and a SARS employee was paid a R10 000 bribe to divulge what was being investigated against the company.

It also alleged that PAYE deducted from Khuselani staff salaries was apparently not sent on to SARS, and said that certain individuals could flee the country and dispose of Khuselani's assets.

Police spokesperson, Inspector Anton Breedt, confirmed to the Sunday Times that the fraud investigation had been opened on Friday.

Border posts have been alerted to stop some Khuselani staff leaving the country.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating three alleged assassination attempts on top Airports Company officials and the Airports Company will appear before parliament's transport portfolio committee on February 13 for a hearing to determine how it is running security at the airport.<hr></blockquote>

[B Sousa]

Ok.....So is this a surprise.......Its the Fox guarding the Henhouse....