A 34-YEAR-old woman was hijacked on Wiltshire Road, just outside Pinetown earlier this morning (Wednesday, 22 March).
Deshree Pillay was driving her white Toyota Corolla (ND 274834) on her way to work. Her car was stationary as she waited for the traffic to start flowing again. She said she noticed two pedestrians but didn’t think much of it. A minute later, they approached her vehicle, one on either side of her car. Unfortunately her window was slightly ajar.
“One of the suspects, a skinny man, pointed a gun to my head and asked me to get out the vehicle while the other heavier-sized man tried to open the passenger door. I tried to take my handbag but they didn’t allow me. They kept yelling at me to get out of the car,” said Deshree.
Luckily, the motorist behind her vehicle, Rishen Rampersadh, witnessed the whole incident and started yelling and hooting. But the men just drove off.
Rishen alerted the authorities and then took Deshree to the Mariannhill SAPS to report the incident.
During that time, news of the incident went viral on social media and neighbourhood watches began a frantic search as they presumed the victim was still in the vehicle when it was hijacked.
Andreas Mathios, community media liaison for Blue Security said he picked up the circulation news on the networks and responded immediately. He eventually located her at the police station and stayed with Deshree until the necessary paperwork was completed. He said she was pretty shaken up by the incident.
“My car, bag with all my personal belongings such as my ID Book, bank cards and money and driver’s licence have been stolen. It all happened so fast. I just want other motorists to be wary of this modus operandi,” said Deshree.
She urged all victims of crime to do the right thing and report all crime incidents to the police. “Without reporting these crimes, the police are unable to assist,” said Deshree.
She also thanked Rishen for going out of his way to transport her to the police station and Mathios for his assistance – “he never left my side,” she added.
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