Gunship
5th Nov 2002, 13:29
LINK (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Mpumalanga/0,1113,2-7-833_1280756,00.html)
Nelspruit - A cash-in-transit heist on the road to Burgersfort, Mpumalanga, has been foiled by a private helicopter - the pilot chased the robbers, who were later arrested.
Captain Mtsholi Bhembe said on Tuesday a Fidelity Guards cash van was en route from Steelpoort to Burgersfoort about midday when it was fired on by the occupants of three cars. The tyres were shot out and the assailants tried to force the van off the road.
A lorry coming in the opposite direction stopped, the driver was hauled out of the cab and one of the hijackers drove the lorry into the cash van bringing it to a halt.
Bhembe said the pilot of a private helicopter had seen the action and hovered overhead.
The would-be robbers abandoned the cash-in-transit van and drove away, with the helicopter tracking them.
A police patrol was alerted and the cars were followed into a housing compound where a shootout took place. One of the robbers was shot dead and three others were arrested.
Bhembe said no one else was hurt and the three arrested men would appear in court soon.
A silver-grey Honda Ballade, stolen in Brakpan,and two Toyota Corollas, stolen in Bushbuckridge, were recovered, as well as three shotguns, a 9mm pistol and nine live rounds, said Bhembe.
Nelspruit - A cash-in-transit heist on the road to Burgersfort, Mpumalanga, has been foiled by a private helicopter - the pilot chased the robbers, who were later arrested.
Captain Mtsholi Bhembe said on Tuesday a Fidelity Guards cash van was en route from Steelpoort to Burgersfoort about midday when it was fired on by the occupants of three cars. The tyres were shot out and the assailants tried to force the van off the road.
A lorry coming in the opposite direction stopped, the driver was hauled out of the cab and one of the hijackers drove the lorry into the cash van bringing it to a halt.
Bhembe said the pilot of a private helicopter had seen the action and hovered overhead.
The would-be robbers abandoned the cash-in-transit van and drove away, with the helicopter tracking them.
A police patrol was alerted and the cars were followed into a housing compound where a shootout took place. One of the robbers was shot dead and three others were arrested.
Bhembe said no one else was hurt and the three arrested men would appear in court soon.
A silver-grey Honda Ballade, stolen in Brakpan,and two Toyota Corollas, stolen in Bushbuckridge, were recovered, as well as three shotguns, a 9mm pistol and nine live rounds, said Bhembe.