A JOINT operation by Fort Beaufort police officials led to the arrest of 14 suspects allegedly linked to a crime syndicate involved in a cash-in-transit heist in the town yesterday.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Bradley Rawlinson said he could not disclose too much information as police were hoping to make more arrests shortly.
He said the cash-in-transit robbery took place yesterday around 9am when five armed men robbed a security company which was collecting money from various businesses in town to deposit at a commercial bank.
"During the robbery the five armed men stole the money as well as firearms from the security officials,” Rawlinson said.
At around 11am Fort Beaufort police together with officials from crime intelligence followed up on information which led them to three suspects who were arrested.
"Around 3pm SAPS members, crime intelligence members and members from organised crime arrested 11 more suspects in a joint operation, bringing the total to 14 suspects arrested,” he said.
Rawlinson said police believed a syndicate was behind the robbery. He said when the suspects were arrested, some of the cash as well as stolen firearms was recovered. – Lee-Anne Butler
