Thugs posing as G4S crew steal Sh80m

A private security company has reported the loss of Sh 80 million in transit from a bank.

G4S Company, however, quickly exonerated itself from blame saying the heist was carried out by “fraudsters” masquerading as its employees.

The story was corroborated by the police who said the vehicle used, branded in the company’s official colours and logo, did not belong to G4S.

The gang that posed as the company’s crew wore clothes similar to G4S uniform and were escorted by others carrying rifles and dressed in administration police uniform.

Besides launching a hunt for the gang members, police were looking for a man in whose name the vehicle is registered.

The vehicle was abandoned on Matumbatu Road in the city’s Upper Hill area, several minutes after the money was stolen from Co-operative Bank at the city centre, at around 2 pm.

A private security guard at a nearby residence saw the vehicle carrying the loot stop outside his gate.

“I opened the gate and found an administration police officer. He had opened the car’s bonnet. He told me it had overheated and asked for water. I rushed back and returned with a jerrican. He asked for a piece of cloth and rushed back but when I returned, I found no one,” he told The Nation at the scene.

Police said the gang sped off in another vehicle that had been trailing the one carrying the loot.

Kilimani police boss Bernard Muli said: “Initial report from G4S is that this car does not belong to them. We have also been told that people in AP uniform were riding in it.”

He said his officers broke the car’s locks but found empty boxes inside.

On observation, the vehicle looked like it had been sprayed with a fresh coat of colour.

G4S managing director John Wheater said: “G4S is currently dealing with an incident in which fraudsters posing as G4S Cash In Transit (CIT) crew stole a cash consignment worth Kshs 80 million from Co-operative Bank.”

“We would like to reiterate that G4S is continuously improving its systems and processes, including working closely with the Government as well as instituting stringent staff vetting and monitoring of vehicles, among other measures.”

Cases of money in transit being stolen have been common since last year with most of them involving the G4S company.

Police officers and G4S employees are some of the suspects facing trial in some of the cases pending in court.