Keep calm and avoid being hi-jacked
Local residents were nearly hi-jacked on the N17 highway, bringing to light the dangers of crime on the road.
HIGHVELD – A video circulating on social media about a new method used by criminals to hi-jack vehicles on the N17 highway, caused a lot of concern last week.
The video shows sharp objects being thrown onto the road that then get embedded in the tyres of vehicles turning off the highway at the Trichardt off-ramp.
In a separate incident, four men attempted to force two Bethal residents travelling on the N17 highway towards Bethal off the road on Sunday, 27 November.
“My husband was driving and a vehicle with four men inside came from behind and pulled up next to us.
“The man sitting in the right-hand backseat indicated that we must pull over and talk.”
According to the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, the men in the car repeatedly drove up to them, tried to persuade them to pull over and then sped up to overtake them, slowing down once they were in front of their vehicle.
“This lasted nearly 10 minutes, although at that moment it felt like hours.
“When my husband refused to pull over, they tried to intimidate him by taking pictures on their cell phones and trying to push our car off the road with their car.
“When the men realised they were not going to be successful, they became angry and visibly upset before giving up and falling back.”
The threat of falling victim to hi-jacking is as high as ever, but with the festive season approaching, it would seem that criminals are getting desperate.
According to Capt Bettina Zondo, communication officer at Secunda Police Station, motorists and passengers should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or people to the nearest police station.
“Make sure to check your surroundings and be alert, never make yourself an easy target.”
Some hi-jack prevention tips include not sticking to a predictable schedule, being aware of people approaching your vehicle at traffic lights or stop streets and being particularly careful on the national roads.
The residents who escaped the attempt were thankful to be safe and urged other motorists to remain calm in these situations.
“I am just glad that my husband kept his cool and finally got us home safe.
“If he had tried to retaliate, who knows, they might have pulled a firearm on us and then this would have been a different story.”
