A 33-year-old man was arrested after he attempted to steal a luxury vehicle at gunpoint in Sunnyside on Sunday night.
Sunnyside police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela said the incident happened around 22:00.
He said a 25-year-old man had stepped out of his BMW X5 to walk his girlfriend to her flat on the corner of Cilliers and Rissik streets.
“As he was walking back to his car, the man was accosted by an armed suspect and subsequently a group of about three men took possession of the vehicle.”
Mavimbela said the man escaped, flagged a police patrol van and alerted the police.
Police reacted swiftly and apprehended the gunman before he could drive away.
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Mavimbela said when he interacted with the victim as he was giving his statement to the Sunnyside police station the following morning, the victim had referred to the passing officers as a “godsend”.
He said the police reacted professionally and promptly.
“I thank them for a great service,” the victim said.
Mavimbela said the suspect would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court charged with attempted hijacking soon.
Sunnyside station commander Brigadier Ramakamakama Kekana commended the members for a job well executed on Sunday night.
He encouraged residents to join hands with the police and the clergy to pray to the divine to intervene in the police’s crime reduction in effort in Sunnyside.
“We thank the Almighty for providing the wisdom, strength and bravery,” said Kekana.
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