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Verulam cash heist: Two suspects killed in KZN police shootout
KwaZulu-Natal has once again woken up to headlines that feel all too familiar. Just days after a cash-in-transit vehicle was blown apart on Old Inanda Road in Brindhaven, police say they have tracked down some of the men believed to be behind the brazen Verulam cash heist.
The operation ended in gunfire.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, officers acted on intelligence that led them to a house in Edendale, a township within the Msunduzi local municipality. When police approached the property, they were met with resistance. A shootout followed. Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded. A third man managed to escape.
Inside the house, officers recovered three firearms, including two rifles and a handgun, along with several rounds of ammunition. Investigators also found a VW Polo believed to have been used in the commission of the robbery. In the garage, a bakkie fitted with numerous number plates was discovered, raising further questions about how extensively the suspects may have prepared for the crime.
The blast that shook Brindhaven
The events trace back to Monday, when a heavily armed gang targeted a cash van travelling along Old Inanda Road. Reaction Unit South Africa responded to the scene. According to RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram, a gun battle broke out between officers and the suspects during the response.
Images from the scene showed the cash vehicle severely damaged following the explosion. For residents in the area, the blast was more than just another headline. It was a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary roads can become crime scenes.
A pattern that troubles KZN
Cash-in-transit robberies have long plagued parts of KwaZulu-Natal. The scale of coordination, the use of explosives, and the heavy weaponry involved often leave communities shaken. Social media lit up after news of the Verulam attack, with residents expressing frustration and fear but also relief that police appear to be making arrests and recovering weapons.
The recovery of rifles, ammunition, and suspected getaway vehicles suggests that this was no opportunistic crime. The presence of multiple number plates in the garage points to deliberate planning, possibly to evade detection after the robbery.
What happens next
Police investigations are ongoing, particularly as one suspect remains at large. Authorities are expected to continue tracing networks and possible accomplices connected to the Verulam cash heist.
For now, the Edendale shootout marks a significant development in a case that began with an explosion on a busy road. It also serves as a reminder of the risks faced by officers responding to high-risk crimes and the persistent challenge of tackling organised cash-in-transit robberies in the province.
As the dust settles, many in KZN will be watching closely to see whether this operation leads to broader breakthroughs in curbing a crime that has become all too common.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
