Attempted hijacking gone wrong

A resident was held at gunpoint and dragged out of her car in a hijacking attempt outside her home in Greymont on 20 January.

“When I stopped the car I saw car lights through my side mirror and then two man approached me, one carrying a gun,” said Pips Rockas.

“When I was out of the car I told them to take the car, they tried to put me on the back seat but I refused and insisted they take the car.

According to Rockas, the two armed hijackers came with an accomplice – the getaway driver who sat in a silver vehicle.

After a long struggle she managed to break free and ran into the house.

Her mother Hannelie Rockas and her brother were in the house.

“We were inside and didn’t know what was going on, we just pressed the remote to open the gate when she said she was outside and the next thing she stormed into the house screaming, ‘Please help me, I am being hijacked’.

”I thought they were following her into the house and my son was shaking, trying to open the door to let her in and I suddenly forgot how to use my phone to call for help. I was so worried that they would come and take her away,” Hannelie said.

After a few minutes the Rockas family noticed the BMW was still on the driveway.

“They left the car. I don’t think they could put it in reverse because I have a special gearbox in my vehicle. I think they panicked because when they took me out of the car they asked me who I phoned and when the garage opened the lights went on,” said Rockas.

Her mother pressed the panic button and called Greymont Patrol who attended to the scene immediately and also called Sophiatown Police.

“The police came very quickly, they were here within five minutes and they were incredible. They spent about two hours with us, offered counselling and took my daughter to the hospital,” said Hannelie.

According to Hannelie, the area is generally safe and with Greymont Patrol, it is even safer because they have cameras on the street.