Second hit on British American Tobacco Company in two days
WESTDENE – A hijacked British American Tobacco Company vehicle was recovered in Westdene.
A British American Tobacco (BAT) Company vehicle was hijacked in Melville and recovered in Westdene on 24 June at around 10am.
The vehicle was off-loading stock at a store in Melville. According to Sophiatown Neighbourhood Watch (SNHW) chairperson Dauw Steyn, the BAT representative was inside the store when the six suspects armed with 9mm pistols and two assault rifles overpowered the Fidelity Guards who were escorting the vehicle. Steyn further added, “The suspects took the guards’ service arms along with the vehicle keys and their cellphones. The BAT representative returned to see them leaving with the vehicle.”
Frikkie Botes from Concerned Residents of Westdene (CROW) attended the scene where the suspects had driven the hijacked vehicle to a nearby park in Westdene. Here they proceeded to unload the stuff into a white Hilux bakkie and a silver BMW. Soon after the Flying Squad caught up to the suspects, the silver BMW and the white Hilux fled the scene.
Sophiatown Police spokesperson Warrant Officer TJ de Bruin confirmed that there was a robbery involving six suspects and a case of robbery and hijacking have been opened. He added that no suspects have been arrested and that more details will follow.
Another BAT vehicle was hijacked in Honeydew on 23 June.
