The swift response of the Nigel SAPS halted an attempted hijacking on December 19.
The members were patrolling the R42 when they noticed a suspicious vehicle. The driver sped up after seeing the police.
The police pursued the vehicle, after which it collided with a truck before swerving off the road. It came to a halt in a field next to the road.
Four suspects exited the vehicle and shot at the approaching SAPS members. Upon returning fire, the members shot and wounded one suspect, but three others escaped on foot.
When the members searched the vehicle, they discovered a male with his hands tied. The victim told them that he had been hijacked after stopping to pick up hitchhikers near Delmas.
The victim also told police that he was strangled and held at gunpoint by the suspects. He was treated for injuries on the scene.
The wounded suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and returned to police custody after being discharged.
In another incident, which took place in the early hours of December 26, two safes were bombed within 30 minutes of each other at two separate locations in Nigel.
Five armed robbers with balaclavas, according to witnesses, were responsible for both events.
The first bombing happened at AJ motors, on the corner of Eeufees Avenue and Northern Road, at about 03:00.
The five robbers, armed with AK-47 rifles, ordered staff and customers in the store to lie down. The safe was bombed shortly thereafter. The shop then caught fire, and staff and customers fled.
The robbers fled in a white Ford Ranger. No injuries were reported after the first incident.
The Oasis Garage on Balfour Road was targeted next by the same group.
Employees in the shop were ordered at gunpoint to open the door. Staff were ordered to lie down, and one of the attendants was ordered to fill the vehicle with fuel. Staff heard an explosion as the safe was bombed.
The robbers fled the scene in the direction of Alrapark, and it is unclear whether they got away with any money.
Anyone with information on the bombings is requested to contact the Nigel SAPS on 011 812 6503 or to use MySAPSApp.pp.
