Police foil attempted meat truck hijacking near Carletonville
Six suspects from Kagiso and Soweto were arrested, and stolen goods worth R580 000 were recovered thanks to swift SAPS intelligence work.
Police thwarted the plans of a group of thugs attempting to hijack a meat delivery truck this week.
Sources say the police were notified of a plot to hijack the truck of a wholesale meat seller from Randfontein earlier this year.
While the hijacking was originally planned for three months ago, fresh information revealed it would take place on October 30.
On that day, an employee loaded his employer’s white Toyota Hino truck with meat in Potchefstroom. The load was destined for Randfontein.
During the journey, he stopped at the 007 shopping centre and gave a lift to a hitchhiker.
Detectives from Carletonville, together with members of the SAPS’ North West Crime Intelligence Unit and the Johannesburg Dog Unit, discreetly watched the truck as it drove along the P111 road toward Randfontein. Near the R559 turnoff to Randfontein, a VW Polo suddenly blocked the truck. The hijackers had just attempted to seize one of the employees when police intervened.
Despite the suspects’ attempt to escape, all six individuals were arrested. Authorities also confiscated the UD truck in which the stolen meat valued at R580 000 was supposed to be loaded.
The suspects, all residents of Kagiso and Soweto, were charged with hijacking, kidnapping, and conspiracy to hijack.
