Holidaymakers take down man attempting to hijack pensioner at Scottburgh Mall
A second suspect was later arrested.
FEW dare tackle a hijacker these days for fear of getting a knife in the ribs.
However, shoppers and passers-by at the Scottburgh Mall parking lot were definitely in for a treat last Friday when two men decided to jump in and save the day.
Holidaymakers Pieter van Zyl and Rynardt Oosthuizen had just made their way out of the mall when they saw the drama unfold.
Mr van Zyl spotted a man push pensioner Margaret Usher up against a nearby car and take her car keys.
“I ran to help and the man jumped into the woman’s car, attempting to start it,” said Mr van Zyl.
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Mr van Zyl reached the car in time and tried to pull the man out.
“Then I saw he had a sharp object in his hand.”
With little regard for his own safety, Mr van Zyl dragged the would-be hijacker from the vehicle and pushed him up against the car.
Mr Oosthuizen joined the scuffle and the two managed to wrestle the suspect to the ground.
Another man alighted from a nearby vehicle and entered the fray, apparently beating the would-be criminal with a stick.
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They disarmed him and held him until security arrived, closely followed by the SAPS who took him into custody.
He was however not operating alone as a second suspect was later apprehended.
The two men appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on April 18 and were remanded back into police custody until their next appearance on April 26.
They are facing charges of attempted carjacking and possession of carjacking implements.
Speaking to the Mail, Mrs Usher said that she did not see where the man had come from and only realised what was happening once he had her pinned against the car.
“I am so thankful to the people who came to my aid when I cried out for help. You are all held in high regard and I cannot thank you all enough,” she said.
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