Four suspects were arrested during the early hours of the morning on May 27, on charges of hijacking.
“Tembisa SAPS detectives managed to trace and arrest the four suspects who were terrorising the community of Norkem Park and Tembisa,” said Captain Manyadza Ralidzhivha.
According to Capt Ralidzhivha, the suspects hijacked a Toyota Yaris in Esphethweni on Sunday, May 22.
“They confronted a woman in her yard and pointed a firearm at her. They then took her car.”
“On Monday evening, May 23, the robbers confronted a 66-year-old man at his gate in Hospital View. The old man was opening the gate to enter his property,” said Capt Rhalidzhivha.
“They pointed a firearm at the man and his family. They were forced out of their vehicle. The three men drove away in his vehicle, which is a grey VW Jetta 6. A case was opened with the Tembisa SAPS.”
“On Tuesday, robbers hijacked a Ford Bantam in Isiziba Section. The owner of the vehicle was held at gunpoint and his car was taken,” said Capt Rhalidzhivha.
The vehicle was hijacked on Tuesday, May 24, and was recovered in Benoni.
“The SAPS received information from community members and on Thursday night police officers went to a house in Isiziba Section where a 20-year-old man was found and arrested.”
He said police officers went to other addresses and more suspects were arrested.
“The key to the 66-year-old man’s VW Jetta 6 was found in the possession of one of the suspects. The police went to an address in Benoni where the vehicle was parked. They found the vehicle and returned to Tembisa with it. The suspects were detained at the Tembisa police cells.”
“It was later established that the firearm used for hijacking the vehicles was a toy gun. The suspects can be linked to other cases of car-jacking and pointing of a firearm,” said Capt Rhalidzhivha.
On Monday, May 30, the suspects appeared before the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on charges of car hijackings, possession of hijacked motor vehicles and the pointing of a firearm.
All three hijacked vehicles were later recovered.
Major General Vincent Leshabane thanked the SAPS members who were involved in the arrest of the suspects.
“They have done a good job. I also thank the community members who gave us information about the suspects. If we work together we will bring most of the suspects to book. Remember, you are our ears and eyes in the fight against crime,” said Maj Gen Leshabane.
