THE jamming device used by suspects to lose the signal of a tracking system on a hijacked truck, backfired as it triggered an alarm at the FSI tracking company’s control room in central Kempton Park on Friday.
The truck was on its way from Durban to Johannesburg to deliver computers worth millions when it was hijacked.
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Hijacked truck driver nabbed on R21
FSI tracking company’s national operations manager, Albert van Zweel, said the company conducted live tracking on the containers carrying computers worth millions the truck was transporting.
“When the signal got lost, the alarm in our control room went off. We called the police, the owner of the truck and Capital Air in Germiston to trace the truck using their helicopter,” he said.
Zweel said an eight-antenna jammer had been used to cut off the signal of the tracker.
“The jammers are illegal but are available at China Mall. This one could’ve cost about R100 000,” he added.
Vekash Singh, the owner of the transport company the truck belonged to, KRV Logistics, tried to call the driver of the truck. When he did not answer, he drove out in an attempt to find the truck.
In an unsuspected stroke of chance Singh spotted his stolen vehicle on the R59 headed towards Johannesburg.
“I received a call that the truck was last tracked in Heidelberg by the tracking company. On the R59 to Johannesburg I spotted it and called FSI to inform them,” he said.
Gauteng Flying Squad communications spokesman, Col Katlego Mogale, said Capt Christo Erasmus and Sgt Julian Botterill from the squad received a description of the truck and were on the lookout when they spotted it on Barbara Road in Isando and followed it onto the R21.
“They pulled the truck over on the R21 north just before the Atlas off-ramp and arrested one male suspect who was the driver,” she said.
It is alleged that the truck driver was escorted by a silver Figo with two accomplices but Mogale could not confirm this.
The two suspects are are still on the run. Bedforview SAPS was also on the scene.
