Help police identify a person of interest in ‘blue light gang’ attacks
Various parts of the N17, N12 and R21 in Boksburg and surrounding towns have been identified as hotspots.
The Boksburg police need your help to track down a man considered to be a ‘person of interest’ in the infamous ‘blue light gangs’ ambushing motorists on the city’s roads.
It’s believed that the man, identified using a computerised facial composite system, had along with his accomplices pounced on an unsuspecting motorist as he was driving on Rondebult Road near the N17 in Boksburg.
He is described as a calm bald black man who is armed with pepper spray and was wearing a traffic police uniform (blue long-sleeve shirt, khaki trousers and boots).
His age is estimated to be between 47 and 50, with medium height and weight, has a moustache and one missing tooth and speaks broken Zulu. He and his partners in crime were spotted driving in a Ford Focus and white Kombi believed to be a Toyota Quantum.
Anyone with information must contact the investigating officer Constable Mosala on 073 810 1030.
Background
According to Boksburg SAPS spokesperson, Sgt Ntsako Ledwaba, the victim, a man, told the police that he was driving in his employer’s Nissan NP200 when he was pulled over by two ‘police officers’, who were driving in the white Kombi.
They reportedly accused the driver of exceeding the authorised speed in the stretch of the road and told him that they were taking him to their offices. The so-called traffic officers jumped into the victim’s bakkie, one of them in the driver’s seat, and drove with the victim to an unknown location where there was a waiting silver Ford Focus with occupants. They bundled him into the Ford Focus, covered his face, took his cellphone and continued driving with him.
While in the car, he overheard the men talking about removing his company car’s tracking device.
He was subsequently dumped in Brakpan. The victim later reported the incident to the police, where a hijacking case was registered.
Persistent attacks
Ledwaba said they believe that the two were part of the criminal gangs increasingly targeting motorists by posing as traffic officers to commit robberies and hijackings and even kidnap the victims on the main roads and freeways.
Various parts of the N17, N12 and R21 in Boksburg and surrounding towns have been identified as hotspots.
Although police have over the past few months made some breakthroughs, the problem persists.
Several blue light suspects, including a suspected ring leader, were recently arrested in Gauteng, and weapons and police equipment were recovered.
Police also recently arrested a suspect in Walkerville after the discovery of a cloned police (Gauteng Highway Patrol) vehicle believed to have been used in a spate of hijackings and courier vehicle robberies in the province.
Also Read: Beware of ‘bogus cops’ hijacking vehicles in Boksburg
