Sign of the Times?
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Sign of the Times?
Johannesburg - Johannesburg International Airport was robbed three times in July, police said. The latest heist occurred on Tuesday evening but details were only made public on Friday. Seven robbers armed with AK47 assault rifles and hand guns held up airport guards around 9pm and stole an undisclosed amount of US dollars after gaining access to the "airside" or controlled runway area of the airport.
Police spokesperson Inspector Jacob Motabi said a top-level task team had been appointed to crack the case and two others earlier in the month. The guards were apparently escorting goods from a Swissair aircraft.
The robbers also made off with the guards' service pistols. No arrests have yet been made. Swissair has refused to comment on the incident and an Airports Company of SA spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Access to that area is tightly controlled by way of a limited number of entry points.
Closed-circuit television cameras also monitor most of the airport's vast grounds.
Another robbery took place on July 26 when four armed gunmen robbed a guard in the airport terminal of a firearm and two hand-held radios. In the third incident, on July 17, two armed robbers robbed a shop of cash, two cellphones and some rolls of film.
Whispering "T" Jet
Jo'berg never been any different.It's just the lads are getting more creative now and knocking off airports instead of milk bars,hotel coffee shops and service station these days.
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3 Holer
Never say never. I can still remember when it was safe to go shopping in Hillbrow, even on a Saturday morning.
Nowadays, I'd only go through there in invisible, armoured car!
Jo'burg was different, and I miss those days!
Never say never. I can still remember when it was safe to go shopping in Hillbrow, even on a Saturday morning. Nowadays, I'd only go through there in invisible, armoured car! Jo'burg was different, and I miss those days!
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Hi 4HolerPoler!
Yep, sign of the times as you say, but then again that is why we are here and not there.
Don't ever expect that type of crime here, not easily anyway! Hope all well settled up the road?
Best rgds
M.A.R
Yep, sign of the times as you say, but then again that is why we are here and not there.
Don't ever expect that type of crime here, not easily anyway! Hope all well settled up the road?
Best rgds
M.A.R
Gatvol
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You folks are sure paint a dark picture. Im headed back that way in Sept. Got my cheapie Virgin Ticket. Which reminds me, if anyone knows how a US Commercial Helicopter Driver can shine shoes and get some Virgin Driver to bump me up to Business, based on my license and Company ID. It would certainly be appreciated. Im flying LAS/JNB via London.
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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.
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.
