Motorist escapes hijacking ambush
"They had me surrounded and I knew something was wrong."
A motorist was ambushed by six men in an attempted hijacking north of Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Louis Peens from Brits said he saw his life flash before his eyes when six men forced him off the road in an attempt to steal his vehicle.
Peens said it happened between 16:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday afternoon when three vehicles began tailing him.
He said two taxis and bakkie were involved in attempting to force him off the road near Zandfontein cemetery.
Peens said a bakkie overtook him and began slowing down.
“I attempted to overtake the bakkie, but an oncoming vehicle stopped me from overtaking,” Peens said.
He said at that moment a taxi came from behind him and drove on his right-hand-side.
“All three vehicles had me surrounded and were slowing down and I knew something was really wrong.”
He then took to the gravel on the left off the road – in an attempt to evade the three vehicles.
“The gravel somehow caused my vehicle to stop abruptly and the engine switched off,”
About six men got out of their vehicles on the empty road from Brits and forced Peens out of his vehicle.
He said they immediately grabbed him by the shirt, forcing him to the ground. His shirt ripped and money fell out of his shirt’s pocket.
Peens said he was on his way to an auction and about R1 700 fell out of his pocket.
“One of the men attempted to start my car and it would not start,” he said.
The man from Brits said a light from behind them was becoming closer and another motorist driving a 4×4 bakkie was nearing.
“The six men immediately took the scattered money and fled in all three vehicles.” Peens said.
He said they took all his possessions and other valuables he had in the car.
“I do not understand why they wanted my car as it is a 97 Opel Cadet.
Peens said he reported the matter to the police who were still to send him a case number.
His wife Yolanda said she simply wanted to warn all motorists to be weary of the dangerous road.
She said the attack could happen to anyone.
Police were still to confirm the attack at time of publishing.
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