Increased hijackings in Delmas during September is worrisome

Hijackers impersonating police or traffic officials to commit hijackings, also known as blue-light robberies, remain a concern, especially on the N12, R50 and R42.

Crime statistic for the Delmas area shows that there is more than enough reason to believe that there is yet again an increase in hijackings accompanied by the kidnapping of motorists and their passengers.

Several incidents took place during September and in one such case, which happened on Tuesday, September 21 at around 15:45, a man, driving a white Ford Ranger, stopped next the N12, just past the R50, Bapsfontein / Delmas off ramp, to relieve himself.

A black vehicle stopped behind his vehicle after which a woman approached him to ask for a lift to Daveyton.

The motorist which he refused.

Inside the black car were four men of whom two alighted from the vehicle and told the victim that they are taxi patrollers.

They ordered the victim to follow them to the taxi offices in Delmas.

After some time, they demanded money from him at gunpoint.

In another incident which also happened on Tuesday, September 21, people in a vehicle with blue lights forced a man driving a double-cab Toyota bakkie to stop.

The victim apparently thought it to be a police vehicle.

Two men, wearing police branded masks and blue jackets, approached him.

The suspects forced the victim into the passenger back seat, covered his face with his own jacket, and tied his hands and feet.

They then drove a long way, stopped, pulled him out of his vehicle and demanded his bank cards and pin codes.

After the victim managed to free himself, he discovered more people, two women and a man on the ground next to him, all tied up.

The victims helped each other and managed to reach a police station.

In another incident on yet the same day at around 19:30, a motorist (62) and his niece and cousin in a brand new Mercedes Benz with no registration plates were driving on the N12 from Johannesburg towards Witbank when a vehicle with blue lights approached them near the Petroport on the N12.

According to the victim, three men wearing police branded masks and uniforms approached him.

When he was not able to provide license plates for the Mercedes, he was forced into the back of the Mercedes with his two nieces.

He was then forced face down and tied up.

The victims were dropped off in the veld in Etwatwa, but not after a weapon, ammunition and cellphones were taken.

On Thursday, September 23, a motorist (34) was robbed of his Mercedes Benz G-wagon and cellphones.

In this case, the victim left the Petroport on the N12, towards Witbank when he was allegedly approach by a blue-light police vehicle.

Police officers, dressed in full uniform and masks, tied the victims’ hands and drove off with him.

They demanded his OTM pin and an undisclosed amount of money was withdrawn from his bank account.

The victim was later dropped in the veld.

A truck driver was also allegedly kidnapped after he was hijacked on the R555 soon after the truck experienced mechanical problems on Thursday, September 23 at about 23:35.

In this case, once again the driver was approached by men who forced the driver to lie down in his vehicle and tied him up.

He was dropped in the veld near Botleng and managed to walk to his home.

The horse was recovered by Tracker, but the two trailers and cargo are still missing.

Capt Carla Hartley, communication officer for the Delmas Police, confirmed that there has been an increase in hijackings in the area.

Motorists are once again urged to be vigilant and to avoid driving at night.

Motorists are further urged not to stop along the road and if in doubt about a suspicious police vehicle with blue lights, to slow down and proceed to the nearest safe place or police station.