Fourways resident, Brian Atkins, was a victim in a suspected car jamming incident at a shopping centre in Douglasdale.
Atkins parked and then locked his car with his central locking device. While inside a shop, he witnessed his Mitsubishi Pajero being broken into. Atkins said he saw a white Ford Fiesta park behind his car, a man alight from the vehicle, open Atkins’ Pajero and steal his briefcase from the boot.
In frustration Atkins asked the neighbouring Hogshead Pub for surveillance footage of the incident,
Atkins said he was in a state of disbelief as he watched his car being broken into.
“Despite having an alarm system, the criminals still managed to get into my car and despite the tinted windows, they knew what to take and where it was placed,” he said.
Atkins added the briefcase contained all his personal belongings. “My whole life was in that briefcase – my ID, passport, documents containing my banking details, cellphone, business paperwork and some irreplaceable stuff,” he said.
In the CCTV footage, the faces of the suspected criminals were not clearly identifiable, however Colonel Tinus Swart of Douglasdale Police Station said a full investigation was underway and a case of car jamming has been opened.
According to Swart, car jamming is not a new trend in the Fourways area, and such incidents occur frequently.
“It isn’t a group of people involved, there are many individuals,” he said. He added that spotters were used to notify others on who to target. Swart stressed that the community needs to be more aware of these crimes.
“Check that your car has been locked, do not assume it is and walk away.” He added that being vigilant and being aware of one’s surroundings is vital.
Like the white Ford Fiesta that Atkins mentioned, Swart said there are many cars in the area that criminals are using in car jamming incidents.
Atkins said he was not shocked by this incident, rather it’s made him more aware and proactive with his personal security.
