Hijackings on the rise in eMalahleni – be vigilant

Five hijackings were reported by the Witbank SAPS within eight days.

The hijacking happened from the July 22 to July 29. On July 22 A Toyota Hilux bakkie Legend valued at R230 000 was hijacked at Reyno Ridge in Gazelle street at about 16:30.

The owner of the vehicle had parked his vehicle next to the gate at a townhouse while talking on the phone and the vehicle was idling.

Suddenly a vehicle parked behind him and a couple came out of a white Mercedes Benz.

The lady reached for the car keys through the window and they order the owner out and drove off with him followed by the Mercedes Benz.

In another incident on five suspects hijacked a vehicle at Klarinet in Extension 6 on Friday, July 24 at midnight.

The complainant went to visit his friend and stayed until late.

When he went home he stopped along the way to relieve himself and he was attacked by the suspects who assaulted him and put in his car boot and drove with him.

They stopped and searched him, took his bank cards and withdraw R3 000 from his account.

They drove with him toward Vosman and they left him tied and drove off in his vehicle, a silver grey Audi registration number: JYT 386 MP valued at R475 000.

A Toyota Hilux bakkie was also hijacked at Duvha Park on Sunday, July 26 at about 18:00.

The owner was driving his car when suddenly a white Toyota Quantum blocked his way.

Three suspects got out of the car all wearing hats and mask and they were armed.

His was forced out of his vehicle and taken to the Quantum and drove with him while tied for a long time.

He was later dropped off and they drove away with his vehicle.

The value of the car is R150 000.

Two vehicles were hijacked on the same date, Wednesday, July 29.

The first one was hijacked at about 17:30, the driver was with colleagues driving towards Old Coronation when he stopped to relieve himself along the road.

While busy he noticed three suspects talking to his colleagues and one of them came to him and pointed him with a firearm and drove away with the vehicle.

The car is valued at R194 700.

A vehicle valued at R74 500 was hijacked at Walter Sisulu Street on the same date at about 19:10.

The owner was driving his white Nissan NP 200, registration number: JYG 937 MP when he stopped for two suspects who were hitchhiking.

They told him they going to Middelburg as he was telling them that he was not going there, one of them pulled out a firearm and forced him out of the car and drove away.

In all the cases no one has been arrested and police are investigating all the cases.

The police on July 31 reported that over 5,000 motorists driving sedans and hatchbacks were hijacked between April 2019 and March 2020.

The annual crime statistics released on Friday, July 31 revealed that 5,245 sedans or hatchbacks had been hijacked.

Bakkies were the second most hijacked vehicle with 2,200 cases recorded.

Taxis were third on the list with 945 cases recorded in that period.161 trucks, 57 SUVs and 47 motorbikes were hijacked as well.