25 Nov 02

Latest from South Africa:

"As the festive season approaches, we are experiencing our seasonal increase in cash-in-transit heists. This year, a new tactic as emerged. I'm surprised the robbers haven't thought of this before:

The armored van is forced of the road in a remote spot. Most of these vans are top heavy and roll easily once they leave the road and hit the dirt shoulder. AK47s are then used to riddle the van's soft underbelly. The sides are armored, but not the underside. The guards inside are usually all killed. The robbers then can peel off the doors at their leisure."

Lesson: Never stop moving. Don't let anyone force you off the road.

/John