Akasia police launch manhunt for truck hijackers
Anyone with information that could help the police must contact their local police station.
The Akasia police have launched a manhunt for two men who hijacked a truck and robbed the driver on the M14.
Police spokesperson Constable Lindiwe Mabasa said according to the driver, he and his co-driver were sent to pick up a car part in Roslynn.
“They picked up the client at a filling station and proceeded to the plots. Another man was waiting for them on the side of the road.
“The client instructed the driver to stop for his colleague who would be driving with them to the site.
“The client and the man pulled out firearms and instructed the driver and co-driver to get out of the truck.
“They tied their hands up and forced them to provide the details to their online banking and robbed them of R20 500.
“They also stole the cash they had on them and their cellphones before driving off in the truck,” Mabasa said.
Mabasa said the hijacking comes at a time when police were seeing a decrease in these crimes from last year.
He said the police have launched an awareness campaign to inform drivers of the tricks used by the scammers to hijack trucks.
Earlier this year Rekord reported Mabasa saying that hijackers were targeting delivery trucks in the area and trucks parked at the factories to steal their cargo.
He said hijackers would hold the driver up at gunpoint, instruct them to drive to an isolated location where they would rob them of their personal belongings as well as the truck.
He said the police advised drivers and truck companies to be vigilant whenever they are called out for a delivery.
To try and prevent these incidents from occurring and to keep the drivers safe, Mabasa encouraged truck drivers to ask the police to escort them should they feel unsafe or for truck companies to hire security.
Anyone with more information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects can call the station on 012 564 0700 or alternatively call the branch commander on 082 319 9579.
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