Three motorists and a motorcyclist targeted in four-day hijacking surge
Four separate hijacking incidents were reported over a four-day period.
The driver of a Toyota Hilux was robbed of the vehicle near Dalpark on October 16 after being pulled over by a woman masquerading as a traffic officer.
This hijacking was the first of four that took place in Brakpan across a four-day period.
According to police information, the driver, travelling in a company car along Heidelberg Road (R23), was approaching the intersection near Carnival City when he was pulled over by the woman at about 11:00.
When he stopped, she told him he was being pulled over because he had failed to indicate.
Despite his objections, he was instructed to get out of the Hilux and follow the woman to a white Ford Ranger parked on the roadside.
As he reached the vehicle, he was ambushed by three men who were inside the bakkie. One of the men was armed with a gun and instructed the driver to get in the Ranger.
He complied, and the hijackers took off with him. The Hilux was also driven away.
The driver was held captive for two to three hours with his attackers telling him they would release him once they received a phone call instructing them to do so.
ALSO READ: Shooting at Maryvlei tuckshop claims man’s life
His face was covered and the hijackers also threatened to hurt him if he didn’t cooperate.
After receiving a phone call, the hijackers drove the victim around for about an hour before they reached an open veld.
The victim was told he could go, but he was instructed to walk straight and not to look at them. They threatened to
shoot him if he turned around.
The hijackers then fled the scene. With his cellphone also taken by the hijackers, the victim sought help from a passerby, who told him he was in Soweto.
The person also assisted by contacting the victim’s employer, who arranged for him to be picked up.
The victim sustained injuries to his face during the ordeal. A case of hijacking and kidnapping was opened.
In a separate incident that evening, at about 19:45, the driver of a blue BMW was returning to his parked car along Voortrekker Road in the Brakpan CBD when he was confronted by two men.
They both pointed firearms at him, and demanded his car keys, money and cellphone.
ALSO READ: Benoude oomblikke toe tiener meisies in Brakpan-sentraal uitgelok word
The victim handed his belongings over, and the hijackers grabbed him in an attempt to force him into the back of the car, but he put up a struggle.
The pair then threatened to shoot him if he didn’t cooperate, but instead hit him with an unknown object. The victim ran into the street for help, and the pair drove off with his car.
On October 18, the driver of a silver Volkswagen Touran was ambushed when he arrived at his Prince George Avenue home in Brenthurst at about 20:15.
He got out of the car to open the gate, when the occupants of a blue Hyundai Getz pulled up behind him. Three men armed with firearms got out of the Hyundai and threatened the victim at gunpoint.
They pulled his jacket over his head to cover his face, and forced him into the back of the Hyundai. The hijackers drove off with him and tied his hands behind his back with a cable tie.
During the ride, they were on a cellphone call to an accomplice. They then demanded the PINs for the victim’s bank cards, and told the person on the phone to withdraw the money.
After some time, the victim was placed in another vehicle and dropped off at an undisclosed location between Kwa-Thema and Tsakani.
He contacted an e-hailing service to take him to Tsakane SAPS, where he also contacted his tracking company.
ALSO CHECK: Brakpan weekend crime round-up: Theft out of motor vehicles spikes
The vehicle was recovered in Pollak Park, Springs.
The victim’s wallet, banks cards and other belongings were stolen. It was also found that money had been taken from his bank accounts.
An additional charge of kidnapping was opened with this hijacking case.
On October 19, the rider of a white Honda delivery motorcycle was shot at during a hijacking along Main Reef Road near Anzac.
The incident took place at about 19:15 when the victim noticed he was being followed by three occupants in an unidentified small white vehicle.
He tried to evade them, but two of the occupants started shooting at him. The hijackers then tried to get in front of him.
The rider stopped, got off the bike and ran away. The hijackers continued to shoot at him, but he escaped unharmed.
