A coordinated law enforcement operation in Silverton has led to the arrest of a 69-year-old man and the seizure of two hijacked vehicles, a container of petrol, and suspected explosives, following intelligence about a planned cash-in-transit heist in the Pretoria area.
The operation, executed on Wednesday, 03 June 2026, at approximately 06:30, was led by Crime Intelligence with tactical support from the Gauteng Highway Patrol, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) Tshwane. The action forms part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal network suspected of orchestrating cash-in-transit robberies across Gauteng.
Acting on verified intelligence, officers deployed to a residential property in Silverton. A search of the premises yielded two vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Fortuner—both equipped with fraudulent registration plates. Verification checks confirmed the Mercedes-Benz was reported stolen in the Villieria policing precinct, while the Toyota Fortuner was linked to a theft report from the Hartbeespoort policing area.
Inside the Mercedes-Benz, investigators discovered a five-litre container filled with petrol. A subsequent search of a white Toyota Quantum parked on the property uncovered a bag containing suspected explosives, which has been secured for forensic examination.
Preliminary findings suggest the recovered vehicles may have been utilized in multiple cash-in-transit robberies and attempted robberies throughout Gauteng. Investigators are specifically examining a possible link to an attempted cash-in-transit robbery that occurred in Silverton on 30 May 2026.
The 69-year-old suspect remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court shortly to face charges related to possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles and possession of suspected explosives. Prosecutors indicated that further charges may be instituted pending the outcome of continued investigations and forensic analysis.