A whoping eight vehicles were reported at the Witbank Police Station as being hijacked. The motor vehicles were hijacked in different areas such as in the Central Business District (CBD), Verena, Masakhane and the N12 highway. In two incidents, the men were dropped off at a bush.
The latest incident happened on Saturday, September 30 around 02:00 at Hans Strydom Avenue, Reyno Ridge. The 45-year-old man’s Chevrolet Utility was hijacked. The man alleged that he was with his friend and two women inside his vehicle. He stopped at a filling station and does not know what happened from then onwards. The victim woke up in a bush where he met two women who assisted him to call Klipgat Police; from there he was taken to Loate Police Station to open a case. Other items stolen were his wedding ring and wallet with bank cards inside.
The following incident happened at Witbank Dam where three suspects pointed a firearm at a man. His Ford Bantam was hijacked. The complainant was forced into a white Corolla’s boot and suspects drove away with him. The man was dumped at Charl Cilliers.
Earlier in the week on Tuesday, September 26 a Toyota Hilux VVTI was hijacked. The 33-yer-old man was driving on the N12 highway next to the Watermeyer Street off-ramp when the incident happened. The vehicle has not been found yet.
In the CBD, a man aged 30 parked his White Golf GTI at Allenby Street with the engine still running. Two suspects came with firearms and he was threatened to get out of the vehicle. As he was outside they told him to go to the back seat and lay down.
He was allegedly threatened with a gun again by one of the suspects seated in the passenger seat and they searched him, took his cell phone and they drove off. The complainant jumped out of a moving vehicle and ran to a filling station nearby. Luckily as he was about to make a phone call pleading for help, a traffic police car came in and took him to Witbank Police Station. The vehicle was recovered later that day.
Another vehicle that was hijacked in the CBD was later recovered. A man aged 42 parked his blue TSI polo at Jellicoe Street when he was approached by three armed suspects. The vehicle was later recovered at Klarinet.
The remaining three car hijackings opened at the police station occurred when the drivers picked-up hitch-hikers who turned out to be hijackers. Two incidents happened on Thursday and one on Friday.
In those incident’s a white Toyota Avanza (Mandela Street), white bakkie, Ford Bantam (Masakhane) and a red Volkswagen Polo (Verena Road) were the vehicles that were hijacked.
The Avanza was recovered later that day and the Bantam has not yet been found.
Witbank Police spokesperson Capt Eddie Hall sends a strong message to the public especially to drivers and pedestrians.
“Drivers must not pick up hikers and pedestrians should not hike on the roads. We have noticed that the people that pretend to be hikers are in most cases the robbers,” said Capt Hall.
Capt Hall provides a few hints to prevent you from being hijacked:
1) Do not give strangers a lift.
2) If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide, only 5cm is enough to have a discussion.
3) Limit your trips at night or at least take someone along with you.
4) Car hijackers may stage a minor accident so they can approach your car.
5) Give up your vehicle with no questions asked and move away.
Read more hints on HERE
ALSO READ
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/83272/second-hijacking-victim-assaulted/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/85883/victim-of-a-car-hijacking-incident-left-stranded/
