Twelve suspects were apprehended near the Midrand Mosque on Old Pretoria Road around 00:15 after they allegedly hijacked a truck from Boksburg on September 23.
According to the Midrand Police Station spokesperson Constable Eliot Mabulane, the truck was transporting nappies to one of South Africa’s biggest retailers’ warehouse in Midrand. Two suspects allegedly jumped inside the truck while the driver was waiting at a traffic red light after leaving a filling station in Boksburg. “The suspects then ordered the driver and his crew members to comply with whatever instructions were given. The driver was instructed to drive straight on the N1 until they reached the New Road off-ramp in Midrand,” he added.
Mabulane said that during the time of the hijacking, one suspect allegedly sat on top of the driver’s assistant’s head and tied his hands using shoelaces. He added that the victim (driver) was later told to stop at Old Pretoria Road, next to the retailer’s warehouse, and ordered to jump off the truck.
“After some minutes, the other suspects also jumped off the truck and started offloading the cargo to another truck. The suspects were identified by the National Response Team under the cross border unit who were on patrol from N1 to N3, ” Mabulane added.
He said that police came across the scene after one truck driver requested directions, to which the police escorted him. The truck was escorted to Old Pretoria Road to which police came across a group of men offloading items from one truck to another.
“They swiftly acted and put all suspects under detention. Through conducting a preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the truck was hijacked and the property that was being offloaded was to be delivered to the said retailers’ warehouse.”
The Midrand Police Station commander, Brigadier Molefi David Tsotsotso commended the two police officers for their bravery. “The case docket has now been opened and suspects are due to appear at Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to face charges of truck hijacking and possession of stolen goods,” he concluded.
Details: Midrand Police Station 011 347 1600.
Related Article:
Police plead with people to understand the law regulating cannabis
