The Boksburg police management has hailed the efforts made by its members recently assigned to crack the Boksburg robbery and hijacking syndicate targeting Uber and Taxify drivers.
The Boksburg police told the Advertiser that Sgt Calvin Mphaphuli and Const Thabo Makomene have uncovered a major robbery and hijacking syndicate with stolen items linked to previous Boksburg incidents.
Const Ntsako Ledwaba, a Boksburg SAPS spokesperson, said the robbers used a new modus operandi to rob the unsuspecting drivers.
“They requested Taxify and Uber rides and when the drivers who received the ride request arrived, the suspects then got into the particular cars and thereupon robbed the drivers of their belongings, including cellphones and cash, at gunpoint,” she said.
The detectives were assigned to track down the gang of criminals involved in the spate of robberies.
On November 30, information led the officers to two of the robbery suspects found near Blue Sky informal settlement on Trichardts Road.
Police managed to arrest one of the men, but the second suspect managed to escape.
One of the latest robberies occurred on November 26, outside Tambo Memorial Hospital where the driver who responded to a ride request was robbed of his personal belongings at gunpoint.
The thugs also drove away in the victim’s car, but it was later recovered.
The stolen items were also recovered in a local shop. They were all positively identified by the rightful owners.
Police believe the arrested suspect could be the mastermind. He has already made his first court appearance on December 3, where the matter was postponed to December 11 for further investigations.
“According to a Taxify driver, Boksburg is becoming one of Gauteng’s high-risk areas to operate in after Diepsloot,” said Ledwaba.
Police reports show at least one case of robbery against a Taxify or Uber driver was reported per week for the past five months.
Victims may contact the investigating officer, Mphaphuli, on 011 841 6858 or 071 422 7417.
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