Hijacker bust via CCTV footage
BRIXTON – CCTV footage helps identify suspect after he hijacked a car in Fairland.
Accused car hijacker found guilty and sentenced to 15 years behind bars.
The Brixton Regional Court found a 30-year-old man guilty and sentenced him on October 26. According to Johannesburg Central Police’s Captain Xoli Mbele, he was arrested on June 24, a few days after the crime, along Beyers Naudé Drive and detained at Linden Police Station.
The office of the Johannesburg District Commander Major General Max Masha was pleased with the work done by the investigating officer to secure the conviction.
Mbele stated, “This good conviction is a result of diligent work done by the investigating officer of Johannesburg Central Trio Detectives Sergeant Mbali Mvelase. We hope this sentence will scare would-be offenders from committing the same crime.”
The accused hijacked a blue Renault Sandero that belonged to a 48-year-old male in Fairland on June 21 this year. Mbele explained, “The victim was parking his car when he was confronted by a man who threatened him with a knife and demanded he be taken to Cresta Mall. Her grabbed the key from the ignition and the victim ran away.”
The hijacker then drove off with the vehicle and left it at Blackheath parking lot with the key in the ignition. Security guards became suspicious when they saw the car parked there until the next day.
Mbele added, “They alerted the police and fortunately, the accused was captured by CCTV cameras of the parking area and was apprehended on Beyers Naudé Drive.”
Additionally, the knife used in the commission of the crime was recovered inside the vehicle.
