Durban — A cash-in-transit security guard is fighting for his life after he was shot and robbed of his firearm during a cash-in-transit heist in Phoenix on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Phoenix police are investigating a cash-in-transit robbery and attempted murder following an incident in which armed suspects robbed a cash delivery truck of an undisclosed amount of money on Aberdare Drive in Phoenix Industrial on Monday, September 30.
“It is reported that the cash delivery security guards had just collected money from a client when they were ambushed by the suspects who shot at the cash delivery truck.
“One guard was shot and taken to hospital for medical attention. The suspects sped off in their getaway vehicle.”
According to Reaction Unit SA (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram, a 43-year-old security officer was shot and robbed of his firearm during the cash-in-transit robbery.
He said the Rusa Phoenix Operations Centre received multiple calls from the public reporting a robbery and shooting at a liquor wholesaler, prompting reaction officers to be dispatched to the scene.
Balram said it is alleged the security officer was exiting the store with cash boxes when the robbers opened fire on him.
“They deprived the injured male of his firearm and the cash boxes before they fled in a white Ford Ranger double cab bakkie.
“A white/silver Toyota Fortuner was also believed to be used by the suspects, but this could not be confirmed.
“Officers discovered that a security officer from Fidelity Cash Solutions had been shot in the abdomen. Rusa paramedics stabilised the injured male before expediting him to the hospital by ambulance,” Balram said.
“Several spent 9mm cartridges were located on the scene.”
Balram said the Rusa helicopter could not be used to conduct an aerial search for the suspects due to bad weather.
KZN VIP Protection Services spokesperson Gareth Naidoo echoed Balram’s words that it is believed the suspects came in two vehicles and held up the security personnel as they were exiting the premises.
Meanwhile, in a similar incident, emergency services and police responded to an alleged cash-in-transit robbery in Olympia Street at a shopping centre in Shallcross on Monday evening.
Police launched a manhunt for the suspects in connection with the cash-in-transit robbery on Wingen Walk in Shallcross, Chatsworth.
Police said the suspect also robbed the security guards of their two firearms before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.
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