ALI MPHAKI
POLICE have announced a breakthrough in their investigation of ATM bombings.
A suspect was shot dead in Tokoza at the weekend and another, an ex-policeman, was arrested in Cosmo City.
Hawks national spokesman Colonel McIntosh Polela said the two were allegedly part of a gang that had been operating in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Polela said the same gang was allegedly involved in the killing of a security guard in Vryheid and the shooting of a policeman in Ulundi, both incidents took place in KwaZulu-Natal.
During one of the bombings, police reservist Busisiwe Mehlwana, 33, was killed when robbers fired at the police after an attack on a filling station in Pimville two months ago.
The heavily armed gang of at least 10 men fled in a long-base, white Isuzu bakkie with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Polela said a joint operation, led by a senior member from the elite unit’s head office and assisted by Hawks members from KwaZulu-Natal and members of Crime Intelligence, continued in Hlabisa, KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday.
During the operation, police had recovered a gun as well as a car that was used during the crimes. He said an Uzi submachine gun and another car had been recovered.
“Our members also recovered explosive gels, detonators and battery packs that were used during the crime spree. The team is still searching for more suspects,” said Polela.
Polela could not say if the crackdown was as a result of the R150 000 reward that police had promised for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the robbers, who have bombed 18 ATMs this year alone.
Detectives have described the gang as being “extremely dangerous, possibly highly trained and well equipped”.
The public has been urged not to approach them if they recognise them.
Crime Line and the SAPS have appealed to the public to pass on any information about the gang to Crime Line’s 32211 SMS service, via the website at www.crimeline.co.za, or by phoning Crime Stop on 0860 010 111.
Tipsters can qualify for the police reward if they volunteer their names and phone numbers when passing on information.