Thanks to the combined efforts of community members, police and traffic officers and emergency personnel, a potentially tragic crime concluded on a positive note.

A family of four were hijacked and robbed by two men while they were leaving Mooi River for their vacation.

The hijackers drove the family to Ladysmith and when they stopped to refuel the parents and one child managed to escape.

A nine-year-old boy was trapped inside the vehicle with the hijackers as they fled. An alert was immediately sent out with a description of the vehicle and the details of the incidents.

Within minutes various units from the police, RTI officers, private security companies, farmers, community members and emergency personnel mobilised and a search for the suspects ensued.

The vehicle was spotted on the N3 and was brought to a halt near the Loskop off-ramp when farmers and police vehicles rammed into, making it impossible for the suspects to escape. The suspects were arrested.

The child was examined by paramedics and was found to be unharmed.