Two members of a daring gang which allegedly robbed a delivery truck of cellphones and other items worth R23 million were further remanded in custody by the Alex Magistrates’ Court on 17 May.
This after their legal representative failed to attend court due to illness.
Read: 70-year-old hijackers sentenced by Alex Magistrate’s Court to combined 35-year jail term
The incident involving about 18 other suspects who escaped, occurred mid-morning on 23 February on the Woodmead off ramp from the M1 freeway. It caused a morning traffic jam for hours. The two were nabbed by the police and security guards about an hour later at the Marlboro cemetery as they tried to escape. Two get-away vehicles loaded with most of the stolen items were also found nearby.
The truck which had a security escort and was heading to a nearby Cell C office for a delivery was blocked from the front and back by the gang in several vehicles. They pointed AK47 rifles at the driver, his assistant and the escort security officers, ordered them out of the vehicles and told them to lie on the ground.
Some of the victims were forced into the suspects’ vehicles which drove off with them and later dropped them off at unspecified locations. Other victims where left on the scene.
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The two suspects drove off in two vans which were found by the police and security guards in the Marlboro area. When they saw the police, the two suspects fled from the vehicles on foot into the cemetery where they were caught and arrested. Their vehicles were found loaded with most of the phones.
About R108 000 worth of cellphones is missing and presumed taken by the suspects’ colleagues.
