Hijacking and looting of trucks prevented outside Bushbuckridge
Divergent Ops played a significant role in foiling criminals' plans to hijack and loot trucks.
The swift response from Divergent Ops’ specialised services unit (SSU) stopped four trucks from being hijacked and looted outside Bushbuckridge on April 14. According to Conrad Harmse, of Divergent Ops, they had been escorting one of their clients from Acornhoek to Mbombela.
“Just outside Bushbuckridge, heading towards Hazyview, we were contacted by our client regarding one of their trucks that had pressed a panic button and was in the process of being hijacked.
“The SSU responded immediately and arrived on the scene within five minutes. A hijacking and looting was in progress, however it wasn’t just one truck, it was four of them, from various companies,” said Harmse.
He added that the SSU successfully disrupted and prevented all hijackings, and secured all of the trucks. The drivers had not sustained any physical damage. Looting was interrupted, and upon doing recon, looted products were recovered.
“The team secured the scene and kept the staff and trucks safe until support eventually arrived from the police. Upon request for backup from the SAPS, the SSU infiltrated a nearby tavern and retrieved all of the stolen keys,” said Harmse.
He said this was an extremely successful outcome and that all transport companies need to realise that without armed escorting on the ‘corridor’ (Mbombela, White River, Hazyview, Bushbuckridge, Acornhoek and Thulumahashe), their trucks will continue to be vulnerable and targeted by syndicates. This service can no longer be seen as a luxury, but as a necessity in order to secure assets and, more importantly, the lives of their staff.
The Bushbuckridge police confirmed that four trucks had been hijacked and recovered, and they are investigating a case of robbery and hijacking.
