The owner of a VW Polo was driving his vehicle on the R500 at about 11:00 when the incident occurred. The resident of Roodepoort was returning home after a visit to Carletonville.
He was in the area of Red Cap Ranch when he noticed a vehicle behind him. The four uniformed traffic officers inside gestured for him to pull over. When his car stopped, one of them asked for his driver’s licence.
He was taking it out when another “officer” tapped his passenger side window with a firearm.
The “officers” forced the owner into the back of his vehicle and drove off with him. After driving for some time, they dropped him off in Florida before fleeing with his Polo.
In a very similar incident, an employee of a courier business was driving on the same road at approximately 09:30 on Friday, 7 October. The employee was also driving near Red Cap ranch when he saw three vehicles, one of which was a Nissan Almera, behind him.
The vehicles proceeded to block his Isuzu bakkie and forced him to stop.
Six men jumped out of the vehicles and pointed firearms at him. They forced him into the back of the Almera and drove toward Johannesburg with him. They dropped him off at Alexandra unscathed but fled with his bakkie.
Neither of the vehicles had been recovered by the time of print.
Following these incidents, the SAPS gave some tips on how to try to avoid hijackings.
Do not text on your phone while driving as it takes your attention off what is going on around you. Motorists should also not drive during the night, stop at deserted areas, pick up hitchhikers or leave their car idling when opening the gate
To avoid being hijacked, rather use roads that are frequently used and do not drive too slowly.
Don’t stop when asked to, rather drive to the nearest police station or garage and phone family and the police when you suspect that you are being followed.
Drivers should also arrange with the family to open the gate when they come home.
Allways report suspicious activities and unknown vehicles in your area, especially those without registration plates.
