Leo Prinsloo: Heroic driver explains what went down in foiled robbery video

Armed robbers on the N4 highway attacked Leo Prinsloo, security escort and police veteran, and his partner Lloyd Mtombeni on 22 April 2021. The pair managed to foil the attack and their heroic efforts went viral last week after dashboard footage surfaced on the internet. Prinsloo instantly became an international hero.

The security escorts – who were reportedly transporting a multi-million rand cache of cellphones – spoke to eNCA’s Barry Bateman about the events that unfolded in the viral video.

ATTACK ON N4 HIGHWAY FOILED

Prinsloo said he only became aware that the robbers were on their tails when the first gunshots went off. Thereafter, his instincts kicked in. Prinsloo and Mtombeni evaded the would-be robbers and even managed to ram one of their vehicles during the daring escape. The armoured vehicle is peppered with bullets throughout the video.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo confirmed that the incident took place on the N4 highway in Pretoria. “The driver of the CIT vehicle managed to evade the robbers for a while but later stopped in wait for the robbers.”

They never showed up and fled with empty hands. Naidoo added that no arrests have been made thus far.

PRINSLOO FOLLOWED HIS INSTINCTS

“When we train people we usually tell people to pre-visualise what [they’re] going to do,” said Prinsloo. “It’s a mindset and that’s pretty much what happened.”

Prinsloo added that he pre-visualised what he was going to do and followed his instincts to the best of his ability. Fortunately, it worked out for him on the day, however, he also said that there is nothing that can “100% prepare you for a situation like that.”

Mtombeni told eNCA that it was only his fourth day working as a security escort and the first time he had experienced gunfire from inside the vehicle. Online spectators criticised Mtombeni for what they perceived as a lack of action.

In response to the harsh words directed towards his colleague the elder security escort said people behind computers always think they know better.

“I think those people should keep their opinions to themselves until they’re in the same situation and see if they can do better in the same circumstances,” said Prinsloo in Afrikaans.

WHO IS LEO PRINSLOO?

Prinsloo is reportedly a former member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Task Force who left the service around 2004. He now runs his own weapons training academy in Centurion, Tshwane.

He also works as an armed security escort – a very dangerous side-hustle – to earn extra income.

Credit: u/joller, This is the operator who kept his cool under fire while driving a security vehicle in that now-famous dashcam video. His name is Leo Prinsloo. He’s a tactical training expert & ex-Police Task Force member. His name was revealed today by the company that employs him as an instructor from nextfuckinglevel

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