Police believe they have made a breakthrough in their investigation into the nine ATMs blown up in the Western Cape this year.
|||Police have arrested a suspect in connection with an ATM bombing that occurred in Nyanga on Wednesday, and believe this is a breakthrough in their investigation into the nine ATMs blown up in the province this year.
The suspect, 38, was arrested hours after the blast in Emms Drive, Nyanga. His possible involvement in the eight other explosions is now being probed and more arrests connected to the blasts are expected.
On Wednesday, police spokesman André Traut said an intelligence-driven operation by various police units, including the Hawks, led to the man being taken into custody.
He said evidence suggesting the suspect was responsible for the Nyanga explosion had been found at his residence. A substantial amount of cash was also seized.
“We believe that we have made a breakthrough in our investigation into ATM bombings, and we are anticipating more arrests in this regard. The suspect’s link to earlier bombings in the Western Cape is now under our spotlight,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday a Nyanga resident, who declined to be named, described to the Cape Times how a gang of armed men scrambled for cash after blowing up the ATM in Emms Drive.
The resident said he was woken by a loud explosion around 3am.
“I rushed to the window and saw these guys running away. There were a hell of a lot of them, between 10 and 15 of them.
“The face of the ATM was lying right across the road from the ATM machine. The guys then ran back to the exploded ATM.
“They were grabbing the money in the street. Then I heard one of them shout ‘police, police’. And they ran away again,” he said.
The resident said it was a civilian car that drove past and the gang again convened at the scene of the blast.
“They were organised and had firearms. Then the police got there. The guys ran. I heard gunshots going off,” he said.
Traut said members attached to the Gugulethu police had rushed to the scene, where they saw three suspects collecting cash from the ground. He said the suspects had shot at the police officers, before running away with an undisclosed amount of money.
Traut warned ATM users to be vigilant when using the machines during the early hours of the morning.
Most of the blasts have happened between 3.10am and 4.10am.
“Do not tamper with any suspicious-looking device attached to a machine, and do not approach suspicious persons in the vicinity,” Traut said.
On Wednesday, the Institute for Security Studies’ head of the crime and justice programme, Gareth Newham, said the surge in ATM blasts in the Western Cape could be the work of a syndicate that had previously operated in Gauteng, but which had moved to this province because policing may have strengthened in Gauteng.
He said the blasts could also be the work of a new Cape Town-based syndicate.
Newham said whoever was behind the blasts was probably experienced.
“In order to blow up an ATM to access the money, you’ve got to know a lot about where the money is situated and how the ATM works… else you could damage the money.”
A knowledge of explosives was also necessary, he said.
The following ATMs were blown up in the province this year:
* January 30 – An ATM at the KTC Spar in Gugulethu was targeted. Seven suspects captured on CCTV footage.
* January 31 – An ATM outside the Kwikspar at Tyger Manor Centre in Bellville is blown up.
* February 3 – Two Absa ATMs on the corner of Milton Road and Vasco Boulevard in Goodwood were targeted. Three men were spotted at the scene and escaped.
* February 7 – Two ATMs were blown up in Goodwood Mall. At the time, police said they believed three armed men had escaped with two boxes of money.
* February 11 – A Standard Bank ATM at a Spar in the Main Road in Delft was targeted. No money stolen.
* February 12 – An FNB ATM at the Caltex garage in Ottery Road, Wynberg, was blown up. No money stolen.
* February 29 – An ATM in Emms Drive, Nyanga, was targeted. - Cape Times
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za