Taxi driver assists in arrest of hijacking suspect in Sandton
Quick action from police, private security, and vigilant community members resulted in the apprehension of a suspect after an armed robbery attempt on Marlboro Drive.
In a swift and co-ordinated response, law enforcement officials successfully arrested a suspect involved in an attempted hijacking on Marlboro Drive.
The incident, which began at approximately 10:30 on April 9, unfolded when a 60-year-old man and his son encountered two armed suspects demanding their cellphones at the intersection of Marlboro and Zinnia drives in Marlboro, Sandton.
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Joburg district corporate communication co-ordinator Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane said, “Feeling threatened, the victims exited their vehicle as the suspects attempted to steal it. When they discovered the vehicle keys were missing, the suspects fled.
“One of the armed men, identified as a 30-year-old, subsequently pointed his firearm at the victim, prompting the victim to defend himself by shooting the assailant. The suspects then made their escape in different directions.”
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Tshetlhane added that the injured suspect, in a desperate move, flagged down a taxi and requested the driver to take him to a clinic for treatment.
“However, the alert taxi driver, recognising the suspect from the incident, drove back to the original crime scene instead. Upon returning, security personnel conducted a search and found a cellphone belonging to one of the victims,” Tshetlhane said.
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The SAPS was promptly notified.
“The suspect received medical attention from paramedics and was later hospitalised under police guard. He will soon appear in court facing charges of attempted hijacking and armed robbery.
“As of now, the second suspect remains at large, and investigations are ongoing,” Tshetlhane added.
Brigadier Koena Moichela, the acting district commissioner, commended the exceptional teamwork between the police, private security companies, and the community.
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