Two alleged thieves got the beating of their lives when an attempt to steal a car at a local shopping centre in Midrand went wrong.
This happened on 5 July when a man parked his car in the parking lot of the shopping centre. He locked his doors and went to a nearby restaurant. When he got into the restaurant he allegedly noticed a man coming out of a red Ford Laser parked next to his car.
“He saw the man going to his car and he pressed the central lock button. When the alarm went off the suspect got into the Ford Laser and sped off,” said Midrand Police Station’s Constable Thabiso Selowa.
A witness who was shopping refused to be identified for fear of reprisal said the security guards at the shopping centre closed the gate after they noticed what had happened. “The men drove around the complex and when they realised they had no way out, they had to surrender to a mob of angry residents who charged at them,” said the witness.
Meanwhile, on the same day, a Taxify driver was hijacked by two men who pretended to be clients on 5 July.
According to the police, the driver received a request to collect a client in Olivienhoutbosch to deliver to Midrand. When he arrived at the collection point there were two men; one got into the front seat while the other climbed into the back seat.
The Taxify driver was then ordered to stop in President Park. “They pointed a gun at him and ordered him to move to the back seat. His hands were tied with shoelaces. They took R1 000 and a cellphone from him,” said Selowa.
Selowa said the driver was pushed out of the vehicle and the suspects drove off in his silver/grey Polo. “The car has not yet been found and no arrests have been made.”
INFOGRAPHIC
Here is a timeline of reported hijackings and car-theft incidents in the Midrand area:
q March 2017 a man escaped an attempted hijacking on the corner of Anton Hartman and Kokkewiet roads in Vorna Valley
q August 2017 three men attempted to hijack a couple in Midrand
q August 2017 TV star Dumi Masilela was shot dead during a hijacking in Tembisa
q August 2017 a white Range Rover pulling into a driveway was almost hijacked by an armed suspect in Midrand
q October 2017 two suspects were arrested for hijacking a bread truck in Kaalfontein
q April 2018 two suspects were arrested after attempting to hijack a delivery motorbike in Midrand
q April 2018 a couple was hijacked at gunpoint in Ebony Park
q May 2018 Tshwane Mayor, Solly Msimanga’s car was hijacked at Carlswald in Midrand
q May 2018 a Land Rover was stolen during a housebreaking in Vorna Valley
q May 2018 a car was stolen at a parking lot at a local sports centre in Midrand
q June 2018 A truck with goods worth R125 000 was hijacked in Ivory Park.
Filler: What can be done to decrease the number of car thefts and hijackings? Tweet us @MidrandReporter
