An estimated 15 suspects scattered in different directions after being caught red-handed off-loading Hisense mobile devices estimated to the value of R7 million from a hijacked truck in Cresslawn on Thursday morning.
The suspects hijacked the truck in Isando. Two suspects were later arrested following a chase through the streets of the city.
“We were travelling from OR Tambo International Airport to deliver the cargo to a courier company in Isando when we were stopped by two vehicles with armed men on Electron Road,” said Yugeshan Chellan from Combined Private Investigations (CPI) Cargo Protection.
Chellan said he was taken into one of the two vehicles, a gold Toyota Fortuner, while Sefefe was put into an Audi. “They put my jacket over my head and drove for a while before dropping me off on a street in Esther Park.”
Running, Chellan came across two men from a fibre installation company who allowed him to make a phone call. The only number he could remember was their escort’s number. The fibre installers transported him to China Gate where he was picked up by his manager.
Sefefe told Express the suspects hit him on the back several times while they were driving around with him. “When we stopped, I realised they had taken me to where they drove our truck to on Fitter Road,” said Sefefe.
“I saw people off-loading boxes into a white truck.”
Two security officers from Imvula Quality Protection, who patrol the nearby area for Gautrain, were also instructed to lie down with Sefefe, said Capt Lesibana Molokomme, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS.
Things took a turn when a brave community member, Renier van der Westhuizen, and Alpha Security’s Michael Ramasehla, arrived on the scene. Van der Westhuizen lives close to where the off-loading occurred.
“A guy who oversees work at my house called me telling me about armed men moving boxes from one truck to another,” said Van der Westhuizen.
“I don’t work far from home so I rushed to the scene and parked a few metres away while I called for back-up on the Zello group.”
Van der Westhuizen was soon joined by Ramasehla, who also called for back-up.
“I passed Van der Westhuizen and as I approached, the suspects fled in different directions. I went after two suspects and managed to apprehend one. Van der Westhuizen chased after the suspects in the two vehicles and truck.”
Van der Westhuizen said there were about 10 suspects in a VW Amarok who were armed but he lost them along the way and followed the white truck.
“I had to drive into oncoming traffic on CR Swart Drive. They turned onto Besembos Street and realised I was still following them. I took out my gun and pointed it at them, which was when they drove off the road into an open veld opposite Builders Warehouse.
“At this stage security officers from P&C Security had joined the chase. The truck stopped, four suspects got out and bolted in different directions. Frederik van der Walt from P&C managed to apprehend one of them in the bushes.”
Molokomme said the police recovered an estimated 20 boxes and one pallet wooden box in the white truck and the suspects, aged 38 and 39, were arrested on charges of truck hijacking and possession of suspected stolen property.
