Members of the EMPD Germiston Crime Prevention and K9 Units responded to a look-out given by the SAPS last Friday, for a vehicle hijacked in Kroonstad, that was on the R59 freeway, in the Alberton area.
The Metro Police responded and, following a six-minute, harrowing, high-speed chase on the R59 and R557, the culprits were cornered and arrested in Walkerville.
Two male suspects were apprehended and the hijacked vehicle and an unlicensed firearm were recovered.
The arrests and the recovery took place at about 2pm.
“Apparently, the two suspects pretended to be potential buyers at a motor dealer and asked to test drive a Nissan LDV,” said Wilfred Kgasago, spokesman for the EMPD.
“While they were in the Kroonstad CBD, in the Free State, the salesperson was threatened with a firearm and instructed to drive towards Gauteng.
“Fortunately, both the vehicle and the salesperson had tracking systems and the matter was reported to the police by the manager of the motor dealer.”
During the pursuit of the hijacked Nissan LDV, the Metro Police were compelled to fire shots at the tyres of the vehicle in order to stop it.
Neither of the suspects, nor the salesperson who was taken hostage were harmed.
The two suspects, aged 28 and 37, were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of an unlicensed firearm, at De Deur Police Station, in the Vereeniging area.
The recovered vehicle was booked in at the Vereeniging SAPS Vehicle Pound.
The two suspects were expected to appear in the Vereeniging Magistrates Court on August 17.
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