Hunt on for armed 'cops' after robbery

How did three thieves get hold of police uniforms and a police vehicle? Or are the thieves actually cops busy with their ‘second’ jobs?

Or did corrupt cops give the thieves access to the R5 rifles and police equipment for a cut of the takings? Where is the control and accounting for every piece of uniform or police gear?

I know, a dumb question. This is the New! Improved! South Africa! after all.

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Three men travelling in a marked Pretoria police van are on the run after allegedly being involved in an armed robbery.

The three, thought to be reservists from Atteridgeville police station, allegedly held up security guards and staff at Contigas in the township.

The men, who were apparently dressed in civilian clothes but wearing reflector vests, launched their attack after they told a security guard to open the premises on the pretence that they were responding to an alarm.

It is thought that once inside the premises, the men overpowered the guards and a staff member before forcing open a safe and stealing a large sum of money.

Bundling their victims into the back of the police van, they drove around for several hours before dumping them unharmed in Rosslyn. A high-level investigation has been launched to track down the men, who are believed to be armed with R5 semi-automatic assault rifles and 9mm pistols.

While police have confirmed the robbery, they say they are still not sure if it was police members who were involved.

The Pretoria News has learnt that one of the men involved in the attack was questioned at the police station hours after the robbery, but was not arrested because the victims were in shock and unable to properly identify him.

Atteridgeville police station spokesperson Inspector Daniel Mavimbela on Friday insisted no one had been identified or arrested in connection with the case.

"The allegations are that the armed robbers were driving a police van and this will form part of our investigation. "At this stage we can't say for sure that the men were policemen or what police station they were from," he said.

Mavimbela confirmed that the men were wearing reflector vests, but "I can't say whether they were police reflector jackets or not".

He said the robbers had got into the premises after they managed to get one of the guards to open the gates. He said a case of armed robbery and kidnapping was being investigated. Mavimbela said no arrests had been made.