Police rescue kidnapped victim in Boksburg
The Boksburg North police have opened a case of kidnapping and attempted murder.
An alleged kidnapper was arrested, and one of his three accomplices reportedly killed himself after being cornered by the police following a shootout with the officers in Beyers Park on July 15.
According to Boksburg North SAPS spokesperson Const Justice Ramaube, the SAPS Highway Patrol unit spotted the vehicle, a grey Vauxhall Zafira, which matched the description of a vehicle involved in a kidnapping that took place in Pretoria earlier that day, driving along Williams Road in Boksburg.
” Officers approached the suspicious-looking vehicle with five male occupants. However, when noticing they were being approached by the police, they started to open fire on the approaching police vehicle while trying to speed off. “
Ramaube said police gave chase and returned fire, which hit the left rear tyre of the suspects’ vehicle, forcing it to come to a halt along the road. The four suspects exited the vehicle and started to run away on foot in different directions, abandoning their vehicle with the kidnapped man inside.
” Officers gave chase and cornered two suspects, but one of them shot himself when he realised he was cornered after running into a residential property on Tredoux Street. The other two, however, evaded arrest,” said Ramaube.
Investigation revealed the vehicle was reportedly hijacked. The police said it is not clear who the hijacked vehicle belongs to as the owner could not be traced.
It was also found the kidnapped man had opened a case of armed robbery at the Boksburg North Police Station about three months ago.
Information gathered by police suggested the kidnappers were linked to the robbery case in question.
Ramaube said police found a gun, a Samsung phone and a bank card near the scene along Williams Road.
Another gun, which looked like an air pistol, was found inside the car, as well as the gun used by the suspect to kill himself.
A case of kidnapping and attempted murder was opened at the Boksburg North Police Station.
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