A taxi driver’s good intentions backfired when a ‘desperate’ passenger he picked up in his Toyota Avanza hijacked the vehicle with the help of an accomplice who appeared out of nowhere.
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Alex police spokesperson Captain Allie Kodisang said the police were investigating the incident which occurred at Last Gate, Tsutsumani at 11 pm on 27 September. The taxi driver, who had dropped all his passengers, was heading home when the suspect stopped him and pleaded with the taxi driver to take him home ‘as he was afraid to walk home alone’.
The taxi driver relented and after a short distance, the suspect drew a gun and held it against this neck. The taxi driver stopped the vehicle and grabbed the suspect’s hand which was holding the gun. As they tussled, a second suspect, wearing spectacles, appeared at the passenger door of the taxi and tried to pull the driver out of the taxi by his legs, without any success.
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The suspects then moved to the driver’s side of the vehicle, opened the door and pelted the taxi driver with stones until they could overpower him and pull him out of the vehicle. They drove off in the vehicle with the victim running after them, trying in vain to catch them. The victim’s driver’s licence, a cell-phone left by a passenger and R240 cash were in the vehicle when it was hijacked.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 439 7718/9
