Pinetown man recalls hijacking ordeal
Bruce Barnard was left with two swollen eyes, a large lump at the back of his head and a bruise underneath his left eye, which is still visible two weeks later.
WHAT was supposed to be the beginning of a beautiful holiday getaway turned into a nightmare for a Pinetown man, who was hijacked and hit with the butt of a gun by a ruthless criminal.
Describing his ordeal, which happened on Wednesday, January 12, Bruce Barnard said he went to a local shopping centre, which he shops at almost every day, to purchase groceries for the trip with his wife.
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“I parked at an undercover parking lot, where I normally park my car. It was about 10:30,” recalled Barnard.
“When I stepped out with my trolley, I saw this man sitting at the entrance and I did not suspect a thing, there are always people around the centre. The man was well dressed and on his phone.”
The 65-year-old said he was offloading his groceries and, when he looked up, he noticed the man was standing next to him.
“I thought he wanted change, and I gave it to him. I continued to pack the packets into the car boot. “He did not move. The next thing he said to me softly, ‘give me your car keys’. I refused.
He said it again and, when I looked up at him, he had a gun. He hit me on the back of my head. I fell and injured myself on the boot, broke my glasses and fell onto the ground,” explained the Pinetown resident.
According to Barnard, he believes he must have been out for about 30 minutes. The next thing he recalled was being picked up by one of the staff members at the mall.
His car, a gold Ford Focus, was gone. By sharing his ordeal, Barnard said he wished to warn motorists to always be alert.
“I would also like to send out a plea to shopping centres to have more security guards to avoid such incidents. Till today, I have not recovered my car. I am just glad that I lived to tell the tale, but crime is just out of control.
“I never expected to be hijacked at a centre which I shop at almost every day, especially in broad daylight. My cellphone, house keys and other important documents were inside the car and we were forced to change the locks,” he said.
Barnard was left with two swollen eyes, a large lump at the back of his head and a bruise underneath his left eye, which is still visible two weeks later.
The Pinetown Cluster communications officer, Captain Bongumusa Manqele said a case of carjacking was opened at Pinetown SAPS and is being investigated.
Manqele said hijacking cases have been on an increase and advised motorists to not entertain beggars on the streets.
“Drivers should always be wary of their surroundings,” he said.
According to the police captain, company delivery vehicles are being targeted.
“We appeal to business owners to try and install dashboard cameras to assist police with apprehending these criminals,” he said.
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