KINROSS – Police are warning motorists not to pick up hitchhikers and to ensure that doors are locked and windows are closed when approaching the four-way stop in Kinross.
More and more cases are reported monthly of hijackings and kidnappings happening in the area.
The hotspot is the four-way crossing in Kinross.
That is the R546 from the N17 exit/turnoff, the R547 towards Kriel and the R29 from Leandra towards the water towers.
Kidnappings go alongside the hijackings, as cases reported would be where the complainant had been kept for some time, forced to withdraw money and later bound and dropped off at a remote location.
ALSO READ: Embalenhle resident finds burnt body parts of baby in yard
The most common areas where complainants are abandoned are Zonkizizwe, Duduza, Heidelberg, Vosloorus and Nigel.
Sargeant Jaco Nagel, a spokesperson for Kinross Police Station, said more and more motorists are falling victim to hitchhiking syndicates in the hopes to gain as little as R15, but in the end, lose more valuable property such as their vehicles, personal belongings and money.
The most recent case reported was on September 4, and at least four cases are reported a month in Kinross only.
From the beginning of April till the time of the publishing, 18 cases have been reported.
A total of 43 hijackings were reported for the year 2021, of which 34 of those cases were reported from April to September 2021.
“Although there has been a drop compared to last year, the hijackings remain a huge concern,” said Nagel.
He said the lack of street lights in the area is also a major problem as most hijackings happen in the early evenings between 18:00 and 20:00.
This, however, does not mean it does not also happen during the day. Nagel explained that when there is less movement near the taxi pick-up point, the syndicates strike.
“Local police are closely working with task teams from Ekurhuleni East and West,” said Nagel.
Ekurhuleni has released photo profiles of people of interest. Two people of interest were linked to another case in the area about two years ago. The suspects were never prosecuted because the case was struck off the roll.
“Things were quiet in the area for a while, but now it has begun again,” said Nagel.
Anyone who knows anything or has information on the syndicates targeting the area is requested to call Nagel on 079 891 5763.
