Explosives stolen from Zululand mine

AT LEAST 200kg of explosives, similar to those used in cash-in-transit heists, was stolen from Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) (Okukhu) last week.

The specific form of gel explosives stolen are commonly used in the blowing up of ATMs, drop safes and cash-in-transit armoured vehicles.

The ZO broke the story yesterday, revealing that Nongoma police are investigating the matter.

At about 7am on Wednesday, the guard on duty received information of suspicious activity at an outcrop shaft.

Upon inspection he discovered that the fence had been cut and then found that nine boxes, each containing 25kg of explosive gel, had been forced open and the explosives stolen.

It is unclear how the suspects gained access to the explosives magazine area.

The ZO has learned that cases of stolen explosives from mines in the region go unnoticed.

‘You find that mines very seldom report such cases to the police because the amount of explosives stolen would not affect overall business.

‘If an incident is reported it is not highlighted as a priority, but rather labelled as a case of stolen property from a place of business,’ a source revealed.

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These accusations are supported by a 2014 study conducted by criminology lecturer, Dr Mahlogonolo Thobane.

Titled The criminal career of armed robbers with specific reference to cash-in-transit robberies, which formed part of her thesis for her master’s degree, Thobane found that a lack of control in the mining sector makes it easy for robbers to access explosives for heists.

‘The ramification of armed robberies is currently costing the banking and cash-in-transit industries vast amounts of money‚ not only in cash being stolen‚ but also to money being spent on fighting this crime.

‘The expenditure of these industries on target hardening and surveillance measures is radically increasing as perpetrators become more professional and sophisticated‚’ Thobane found.

She interviewed 40 convicted heist bandits to gain insight into how these crimes are conducted.

Criminology study
Thobane revealed that precision, secret meetings, bribes and planning are among the strategies used by robbers in the planning of cash-in-transit heists.

She highlighted that one of the most important factors that goes into the planning of these heists is a visit to a sangoma.

‘They believe they have to see a sangoma first so they can be pointed in the right direction or be told whether a robbery will be successful or not.

‘They believe the muti they receive makes them powerful and invisible.

She added that the robbers often found a ‘finger man’, someone on the inside who provides details of how much money is in a truck and the times of the pick-ups and drop-offs.

‘This then leads to sourcing vehicles, which are often hijacked.’

Thobane revealed police involvement in well-planned heists and highlighted instances in which police were used to mislead investigating officers.

‘The police officers are on the crime syndicate’s payroll.

‘But it is not only police officers. Magistrates and law enforcement officials in general make dockets disappear, so a lot of people are being bribed.’

Meanwhile, Empangeni’s K9 Unit, Flying Squad and a Cluster Task Team were dispatched to the R34 near Empangeni Milling this morning (Tuesday) after reports of a suspected cash-in-transit heist.

This proved to be a false alarm as the armoured vehicle merely had a blow-out.

Community members who reported the incident mistook this for a heist.

Read the original story published in ZO Monday by clicking on the PressReader image below and subscribing.

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