Failed attempt: A robber has been killed following a shootout with police moments after a cash-in transit van was set alight north of Pretoria. Photo: Phill Magakoe, Pretoria News

As the crew tried to escape, the gunmen sprayed the vehicle with a flammable liquid before setting it alight.

The gunmen, who managed to force open the back of the van, escaped with a substantial amount of money into a nearby informal settlement.

Police from the Special Task Force and the North West Organised Crime Unit who were tipped of on the whereabouts of five of the alleged suspects surrounded a house in Carousel View.

As they tried to force their way into the house the gunmen opened fire. Police returned fire, killing one gunmen and arresting four others.

National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said the robbers attacked the cash van as the crew drove towards the N1.

He said that after forcing the van to a stop, the gunmen opened fire before spraying flammable liquid on to the van and setting it alight.

"Fortunately none of the crew was burnt although one guard was slightly injured from the impact of the collision," he said.

Naidoo said police discovered the gunmen's hideout after receiving an anonymous tip-off about their whereabouts from members of the community.

"Police recovered an R4 rifle as well as four handguns, a BMW and a Nissan bakkie which are believed to have been used as the getaway vehicles of the suspects," he said.

Naidoo said investigators were searching for the remaining robbers who are believed to be in possession of the money.

He declined to comment on the amount of money stolen. According to information given to the Pretoria News, the gunmen made off with more than R50 000.

Asked about allegations that the gang was involved in other robberies in several provinces, Naidoo said police could not rule out the possibility.

He said the four men had been charged with armed robbery, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and vehicles.

"Detectives are investigating whether the vehicles recovered were taken by the gang during the commission of other crimes.

"If they were the men will face additional charges," he said.

The driver of the cash van, who was seen being questioned by police, declined to talk to the Pretoria News.

Coin Security was unavailable for comment.

• Sapa reports that two men fled empty-handed after trying to rob a cash-in-transit vehicle in Mamelodi East on Monday.
  
  Police Inspector Paul Ramaloko said the two approached one of two security guards who had been collecting money from a BP filling station at around midday.
  
  "The two armed suspects approached the guard who had just collected money boxes from the filling station and pushed him, causing the money boxes to fall.
  
  "However, they took nothing except his service pistol before fleeing in a Toyota Condor," said Ramaloko.
  
  No one was injured in the incident.
  
  
  • This article was originally published on page 2 of Pretoria News on July 24, 2007