‘Mantoetse Maama
The police are still looking for the suspects who blew-up two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) located in the Maseru Industrial Area in the early hours of Friday last week.
According to the District Commissioner of Maseru Urban Police, Senior Superintendent Mofokeng Kolo, more than M300 000 is suspected to have been stolen in the robbery.
The Sunday Express is withholding the name of the bank to which the ATMs belonged as the financial institution’s officials were not immediately available for comment.
“Today (Friday) at around 2am, two ATMs were bombed in the industrial area. According to our preliminary investigations, a security guard was patrolling around the area when he met one of the suspects. The man pushed the guard to the guardhouse and the other suspects, estimated to be four, went to the machines,” Senior Superintendent Kolo said.
“The men then bombed the ATMs and took money estimated to be more than M300 000, although the amount has not yet been confirmed because the records were destroyed in the blast.
“Both machines and the walls to which the ATMs were attached, were destroyed during the blasts.
“The robbers, estimated to be five, fled the scene in a BMW that had South African, Free State registration-plates,” he said.
Senior Superintendent Kolo further noted it is suspected one of the suspects could be from Bloemfontein, South Africa.
“We have informed the South African Police Services (SAPS) to help us with our investigations.
“However, we believe that the suspects did not leave the country immediately as they knew we might have alerted our SAPS counterparts.
“When the police arrived at the scene of crime, the robbers fired at them but no one was injured.
“The security guard was also not hurt although they tortured him when they put him into the guardhouse,” Senior Superintendent Kolo added.
He added this is the second ATM to be bombed in the Maseru Industrial Area this year.
“We appeal to the public to stop going to the ATM at night as they might get hurt should they run into such criminals, or happen to be at the machine when the robbers pounce.”
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