Two hijackings in one weekend
Hostage-taking during the commission of hijackings is prevalent as is motorists who are robbed of their valuables and cash
A report by vehicle-tracking company Tracker states that vehicle crime activities increased by 11 per cent nationally. Hijackings spiked by 21 per cent. Although there was a slight decline during lockdown, the figures rose once restrictions were eased.
The report reads, “The trend of what day and time a hijacking is reported has changed. It now shows that it is prevalent from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 24:00, with only slightly less activity on Sundays and Mondays.”
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Hostage-taking during the commission of hijackings is prevalent as is motorists who are robbed of their valuables and cash.
“With the latest statistics indicating that these incidents can happen on any day of the week and at any time, it is clear that criminals are taking advantage of opportunistic situations and it is therefore imperative to always remain vigilant.
“Ensure that your vehicle-tracking device is in working order and make use of the features offered by your service provider,” said Ron Knott-Craig, executive: operational services at Tracker South Africa.
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The report indicated that eMalahleni in Mpumalanga is considered a hotspot, while Ibhayi in the Eastern Cape, Rustenburg in the North West, Burgersfort in Limpopo, Bloemfontein in the Free State and Dikhing in the Northern Cape were also on the list.
Lowvelders have not been spared this scourge, with two hijackings and robberies reported last weekend. Hi-Tech Security’s statistics, drawing a comparison between March to April 2019 and the same period this year, shows a decrease in theft from motor vehicles from 677 to 579.
Motor vehicle thefts showed an increase from 48 to 77, while car hijackings are not as prevalent in the Lowveld. Last Friday, AfriForum’s Cairn-Burnside Farm guard recovered a vehicle that was stolen during a farm attack on the Barberton to Kaapsehoop gravel road.
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The attack occurred in the early hours and a car, washing machine, cellphones and a firearm were taken. The chairperson of Mbombela’s AfriForum branch, Devon McCullough, noticed the stolen vehicle in Vintonia and reported it.
ACS Security, the SAPS and neighbouring farmers arrived to find the fuel cap missing and the driver’s side window open.
McCullough said, “We hope that the recovery of the vehicle will lead to the speedy arrest of the suspects.”
Dietmar Frey, a White River resident, was hijacked on Saturday at about 08:15 at the Jerusalem Trust bus stop on the R538.
His wife, Magriet, provided details of his ordeal.
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“The place where the incident occurred is quite busy with a number of shops lining the street. Dietmar was fetching our gardener and a family friend.
Two armed men jumped in on both sides of the Corsa bakkie, threatening to kill him if he did not ‘behave’ or control our dog, Shalom,” she said.
What followed was an assault in which Dietmar was repeatedly beaten, resulting in his nose and mouth bleeding profusely. The suspects forced him to drive to a deserted area in the trust.
A devout Christian, he prayed and asked why they were doing this. According to Magriet, the two suspects told him that they were hungry. After a long drive into the bush, they stopped the vehicle, emptied his pockets and ordered him to lie on the ground.
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“They fired a shot and by God’s grace no one was harmed. They kept the car keys and remote and took all the cash, cellphone, sunglasses, his shoes and sweater.
“He pleaded with them to leave the cards, his prescription glasses, wedding ring and his dog.”
She said the two suspects proceeded to remove the car battery which they forced him to carry. He pleaded with them to return his glasses but they refused, threatening to shoot him if he did not return to the car.
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Masoyi residents contacted the police and Magriet went to the scene with spare keys and a battery to get the bakkie to Mbombela. As the police were fingerprinting the scene, two locals appeared with the remote and car keys as the vehicle had been transported to the Nelspruit Police Station.
“At about 17:00, we arrived home safely with a traumatised Dietmar and our dog. We would like to thank the Masoyi police and the community for their helpful and friendly assistance,” Magriet concluded.
Another hijacking was reported on Wednesday night, with Bossies Community Justice and White River Hi-Tech Security working together to recover the stolen VW Polo. According to a post on Facebook, no arrests were made as the armed suspects managed to get away.
