Don’t give strangers a lift

Police have warned motorists against giving lifts to strangers.

This came after several motorists in Soshanguve laid complained that they had been hijacked by the same people they had offered lifts to.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Lolo Mangena said hijackers in Soshanguve were targeting private motorists.

“We would like to warn the motoring public that there is a gang of robbers targeting motorists.”

Mangenga said over the past few weeks Rietgat police had received several reports of motorists being hijacked after offering lifts to strangers.

One of the victims, a 27-year-old man, was hijacked between Block LL and NN on Monday after he had offered a lift to two unknown men.

“The man was relaxing at a drinking place in Block NN. When he left, he saw two unknown men outside and they asked for a lift to Block LL as he got into his white Nissan 1400 bakkie around 19:00,” said Mangena.

Mangena said the man gave them a lift and, as they were driving, one of the men produced a gun and the other one hit the driver over the head with a beer bottle.

They took his car and left him lying unconscious on the roadside, said Mangena.

Another man was hijacked in similar fashion on Soutpan Road around 20:30 on Monday.

He had given three men a lift, who then pulled out firearms and hijacked him.

Mangena said the man’s car was stolen as well as cellphones and cash.

He said police were still searching for the two stolen vehicles, a Nissan 1400 with registration number DZ 53RK GP and a white Toyota Tazz, with registration number BFH 683 L.

Mangena said some people seeking a lift might look harmless, but was always the risk that they could be criminals.

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