According to Carletonville police’s communication officer, WO Peter Masooa, one such incident took place on Dove Street in Blybank on Saturday, 1 May.
“The complainant alleges that he was delivering his lady friend to her house when two males accosted them and took his car keys. He was hit with a firearm in his face and forced into the car with his lady friend,” says Masooa.
The suspects raced off and dropped them at Poortjie in Orange Farm. The white Golf 5 with the registration number C364BBH, has not been recovered yet. Another hijacking took place in the Leeupan area on Sunday, 2 May.
“The complainant was driving a white Toyota Hilux bakkie with the registration KDM 632 NW along the N14 when he noticed a grey BMW with three males driving up to him. The occupants pointed firearms at him and forced him to stop,” says Masooa.
The thugs then forced the victim into the passenger seat, handcuffed him and took all his belongings.
“Run into the veld,” they instructed him before racing off with his bakkie.
The police have offered tips to motorists to avoid and survive hijackings. Know where you are. You must also know the registration number of your vehicle, its colour and markings.
Install a tracking system and know where to contact the installation company in an emergency.
Always check before stopping at a gate. Look for suspicious activity or people. Install floodlights and a remote-controlled gate.
Make people in the house aware that you are there so they can either open the gate for you or observe any suspicious activity in the yard or street.
When cornered, always comply with the criminals’ instructions.
Don’t look them in their eyes. Check for identifiable marks or clues about the identity of your assailants, like language, nationality, tattoos, deformities, registration numbers etc.
Report the incident at the nearest police station as soon as possible.
The police are looking for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
Anyone with such information can contact them anonymously at the Crime Stop Hotline at 0860010111 or the Carletonville police station at 018 787 9317.
“We are ready to receive any information on any such crime committed and give a reward for it,” said the station commander, Brigadier Marinda Theron.
