Weekend crime round-up

According to information received, the following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the weekend:

• Friday – A car parked at an address along Pythian Street in Brakpan North was stripped of parts.
The vehicle’s sump, backseat and other parts were stolen.
The thief is known to the victim.
* The driver of a white Volvo truck was hijacked along Heidelberg Road (R23) near Dalpark at around 10:00.
The victim was overtaken by the driver of a white Hyundai Elantra, who then pulled in front of the truck, put his hazard lights on and slowed down.
The car eventually stopped, forcing the truck driver to do the same.
The victim got out of the truck and approached the Hyundai driver, who told him the car had broken down and asked if he would help him push the vehicle off the road.
The victim agreed to help but was then attacked by the driver.
Two men, both of whom were armed with guns, emerged from the Hyundai and dragged the victim into the vehicle.
He was forced into the backseat and bound with cable ties.
They drove off with the victim and one of the hijackers followed in the truck.
He was driven to an undisclosed area where he was able to escape his captors.
The victim stopped a passing police vehicle along the N3 highway and was taken to the Heidelberg Police Station.
• Saturday – Cash was stolen during a break-in at a business along Voortrekker Road.
* An eagle-eyed community member prevented his neighbour’s car from being stolen at an address along Lawrence Road in Dalpark.
The neighbour called the car’s owner around 17:00 and told her he saw an unknown man pushing her car towards the gate.
She rushed outside to find the car, near the gate, with the bonnet and front passenger door open.
The driver’s side window had been removed and the ignition was damaged.
Tools were found inside the vehicle.
A case of attempted motor vehicle theft was opened at the Brakpan Police Station.
• Sunday – A social gathering ended in disaster after a man was shot by armed intruders.
The victim, his fiancée and a male friend were sitting around a fire in the yard of a residence along Pienaar Street in Brenthurst when they were held at gunpoint by three men wearing balaclavas.
The incident took place at around 03:00.
The trio were instructed to lie on the ground and the men were robbed of their cellphones, while one of the robbers removed the woman’s shoes.
When the victim stood up, one of the robbers shot him in the stomach.
The robbers then fled the scene.
The victim was taken to the Far East Rand Hospital.
Cases of attempted murder and armed robbery are under investigation.