CCTV hijackings not new in CBD – security company
New CCTV footage shows three more hijackings occurred on the corners of Commissioner and Crown streets, in a period of about two weeks.
The new footage follows the initial YouTube video which shows a family being hijacked in the Johannesburg CBD on 16 November.
All footage was recovered from the CCTV cameras placed around Johannesburg CBD by security company, FASDA .
Andy Henry, owner of FASDA, confirmed that four hijackings took place at the same intersection between 4 and 16 November.
“Our company provides security for 80 percent of Johannesburg’s CBD and we have our cameras placed everywhere so we see most of the crimes taking place. Looking at the footage, it’s evident that these hijackings are not just petty crimes – they appear to be related and very advanced,” said Henry.
According to him, all the vehicles hijacked were robbed either of expensive merchandise or large amounts of money.
He explained that in the most recent footage a driver of a white BMW almost escaped a hijacking, but was shot at and robbed of diamonds.
“The victim was followed from the Diamond Centre in the Johannesburg CBD and was said to have been carrying [diamond] mechanise in his car. The driver was with his son and although they managed to escape the first attempt, the hijackers caught up to them at the next intersection and opened fire on the BMW,” said Henry.
“The victims were not hurt, and the car was left behind, but [the] merchandise was stolen from the car.”
In the initial footage, a family is seen being dragged out of a car by three men while another stands in the middle of the street with an AK-47, threatening other motor vehicles driving past.
Other footage shows a white bakkie hijacked in the same modus operandi, and, according to Henry, the vehicle was recovered through the help of a tracking company.
The security company’s owner said it was a scary feeling to see how society is being “held ransom by thugs like these”.
“It is one thing to give advice to people on how to exercise caution and vigilance but the truth of the matter is that such attacks happen fast. One thing is for sure – it is not ‘average’ individuals being targeted in these specific cases; these criminals are very serious and appear to be advanced,” said Henry.
