Eight car jammers and robbers arrested in Midrand after high-speed chase
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the suspects were found in possession of three car jammers and cellphones.
Following a high-speed chase and swift arrest of eight suspected car jammers, Gauteng police believe they may have broken the back of a syndicate behind a spate of car-jamming incidents across the province.
The eight suspects were arrested at the garage on the N1 in Midrand on March 8. The syndicate is believed to be operating in various towns around Gauteng, including Midrand and Pretoria.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they would either jam victims’ vehicles or rob them at gunpoint before taking their personal belongings.
She said the syndicate of eight robbers were arrested shortly after a female diplomat was robbed of her handbag and other belongings in Pretoria.
“According to a preliminary report, police responded swiftly after suspects travelling in a white Toyota Corolla and white Ford Ranger blocked the diplomat’s vehicle at the corner of Burnett and Festival streets in Hatfield, Pretoria at about 14:00 on Friday. Police gave chase and traced four suspects along the N1 while the other four suspects were followed to Ultra City Shell garage in Midrand,” said Mathe.
She said all eight suspects were arrested and were found to have one firearm, three cellphones and three vehicle jammers in their possession.
The suspects are being processed and investigations are underway to determine if they are linked to other armed robberies and car remote-jamming incidents.
In the latest crime pattern analysis by Midrand police, for January 5 to 12, car jamming was occurring mostly in Noordwyk and Vorna Valley.
“Days with the most incidents were between Monday and Wednesday evenings from 20:00 to 00:00.”
Car-jamming devices block the transmission of signals sent to your vehicle, like pushing the button on your keychain to lock your vehicle, according to Beame, a company which produces reliable wireless recovery devices. “Don’t just click and walk away – double check that you can hear your car alarm being set and then test that your doors and boot are locked.”
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