Two In a Row: STEREO...
Now robbers target planes
Aeroplanes have now become the target for robbers who have already managed to steal millions of rands from South African airports.
In the most recent incident, robbers armed with AK47 weapons, made off with R64 million. This was the third armed robbery within the space of three weeks at Johannesburg International Airport, prompting concern for the safety of passengers.
Seven heavily armed robbers arrived at the airport on Tuesday after 9pm in two cars and stole containers holding foreign money and jewellery from a Swiss Air plane that was on the landing strip.
They had the necessary entry passes and required clothing to get past security with their vehicles.
A North Rand police spokesperson, Eugene Opperman, has said that security officials from the company Guard Force were ambushed by the robbers while freight and money containers were being offloaded from the plane and taken to security company's offices.
Apparently, the robbers knew exactly which containers to open.
No shots were fired, nobody has yet been arrested and investigators have still not been able to confirm exactly how much money was stolen.
Rapport has been told that currency and jewellery worth as much as R64 million may have been taken.
The fact that robbers managed to get around security measures at the airport has prompted concern for the safety of passengers.
Charmaine Lodewyk, a spokesperson for the Airports Company said on Saturday that the ambushes are being regarded as a very serious matter. In light of the police investigation she said she could not reveal details about the robbery.
She said the Airports Company is considering all possible manners in which security at Johannesburg International can be beefed up.