Bluff hijackers drive victim around while dismantling tracking device

A BLUFF woman was hijacked in Channel View Road, her face covered as she was driven around, before being dropped off in Mayville on Wednesday, 18 March.

At about 7.40am, after dropping her child off at school, the woman noticed a white VW Polo with GP number plates driving behind her. As she turned a corner, the car suddenly overtook and stopped in front of her, forcing her to a halt.

Two armed men forced her out of her car, valued at R450,000. One of them drove off in her car, while the second forced her into the Polo and covered her face with a towel, while the driver sped away.

After driving around for a long time, the two men dropped off the traumatised woman, who was fortunately physically unharmed, in Mayville.

She walked to the police station and reported the hijacking, telling police her car had a tracking device in it. The device indicated it was in Westville, so police were quickly dispatched to locate it.

While the two men drove the frightened woman around, the third man who had taken her car, had removed the tracking device. Police found it lying in bushes in Westville.

Brighton Beach SAPS communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux said prior to this, the last reported hijacking in the Brighton Beach SAPS policing area was in in November.

“It is clear this was not an opportunity crime and that the perpetrators were not amateurs. They drove the female victim around to afford them a time delay in the reporting of the hijacking and to redirect the vehicle’s tracking device, so that they may gain safe possession of the vehicle,” she said.

“We urge vehicle owners to change their daily route with regards to arrival and departure times and routes. Always travel with your windows up and doors locked. If you suspect that you are being followed, drive to your nearest police station or busy public place and be vigilant of your surroundings at all times.”