The South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a chilling warning to members of communities who pick up cash from Cash in Transit (CIT) crime scenes that they too can be arrested for theft. The police released a statement condemning and warning citizens against looting from a CIT robbery crime scene.
The police has acknowledged seeing videos on social media of members of the public who rush to pick up let overs when a cash in transit (CIT) vehicle is blown up.
“We have noted such acts of criminality playing out at the latest CIT heist that took place in Dobsonville on Monday morning and of another CIT that took place two weeks ago in Kagiso. In both incidents, dozens of community members accessed the crime scenes and looted scattered money that was found to be lying on the ground, with some still in the cash van.
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The police advised citizens not to commit crime by picking up the cash but to report the crime to the Crime Stop Number on 086 00 10111 and/or to report the matter to their nearest police station.”
Members of the public who commit the crime of making out o the robbery can also be charged with defeating the ends of justice, the police said.
The police reminded it is the duty of the community to assist the police in apprehending criminals and not to become part of them.
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“We also wish to take this opportunity to thank those community members who continue to take a stand against crime in their communities by reporting such criminality to the police.”
The police also warned the public from endangering themselves as explosives are used in denotations on the CIT vehicles and the money safes.
“Cash-In-Transit (CIT) heist crime scenes can often be very dangerous particularly when explosives are used in such robberies.
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