THREE men allegedly involved in the theft of thousands of rands worth of cigarettes during an armed robbery were caught after a high-speed chase with police on Wednesday, 6 July.
On Tuesday, 5 July a British American Tobacco vehicle was delivering cigarettes at a store in KwaCele, inland of Scottburgh, at about 7.45am when the 31-year-old driver was allegedly held up by two armed men.
It is alleged the driver was returning to his vehicle after having delivered cigarettes at the store when the two men held him up with a gun and made him get in the vehicle.
One of the men drove the Caddy. As they stopped on a side dirt road, they demanded money and the panic button from the driver who said that he did not have either.
The men’s accomplices were in a VW Jetta, which was loaded with several cartons of cigarettes. When no more cartons could fit in the car, the remainder were left on the roadside. Leaving the driver behind, the men drove the Caddy further up the dirt road where they abandoned it and fled in the Jetta.
They made off with cigarettes, money and a cellphone.
Charges of hijacking and armed robbery were investigated by Scottburgh SAPS.
The Scottburgh SAPS response crew and detectives attended the scene. They were joined later by a forensic expert from the Port Shepstone Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) who combed the scene for forensic evidence.
At about 2.30pm on Wednesday, 6 July, armed with vital information provided by Scottburgh crime intelligence, members of the Scottburgh detective task team, Umzinto K9 unit, Umzinto task team, Scottburgh crime intelligence and Scottburgh crime prevention unit lay in wait on the N2 highway at Umkomaas.
As the VW Jetta and a white Toyota Quantum taxi passed, a high speed chase ensued. Police managed to pull the taxi over at Winklespruit, but the Jetta escaped. The driver of the taxi and his two passengers were placed under arrest and the taxi impounded. All the stolen cigarettes were recovered in the taxi.
It is hoped that this arrest will send a clear message that we will arrest all those who break the law
The driver of the taxi is from Dududu, while the other two men are from KwaMashu. All three arrested men were detained and will appear in Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 7 July on charges of hijacking and armed robbery.
“This indicates police officials are not tolerating any illegal behaviour. It is hoped that this arrest will send a clear message that we will arrest all those who break the law,” said KZN acting provincial commissioner, Bhekinkosi Langa.
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