Hijackings: seven held

Eastern Cape police have arrested seven suspects after three separate carjackings in Port Elizabeth.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said they were arrested on Thursday.

In the first incident on Thursday, he said a white Hyundai H100 delivery vehicle was hijacked in Ranisi Street, Motherwell, by three armed men.

The vehicle was delivering fridges at 2.30pm when the driver and his assistant were hijacked at gunpoint.

“They were forced into the back of the vehicle and driven off by the suspects. At the first traffic lights they jumped off the vehicle and ran away to alert police. The vehicle was recovered an hour later. It was found abandoned in Mvubu Street.”

At about the same time, a white Isuzu courier delivery vehicle was hijacked at gunpoint by two men in Govan Mbeki Avenue, while the driver was delivering parcels.

Beetge said the vehicle was abandoned less than 10 minutes later in Bart street, Ezinyoka.

At 3.15pm another vehicle delivering cosmetic products was hijacked at Captain Street, Motherwell.

Beetge said two armed men forced the driver and his assistant out of the vehicle at gunpoint and drove off.

The suspects also robbed the complainants of four cellphones.

Less than a hour later, Motherwell Cluster Operational Command Centre members found the vehicle abandoned in Mbokwana Street without its cargo.

“After speedily following up information, Ikamvelihle police searched a house in Ingwe Street and the boxes of cosmetics were discovered and confiscated. The four cellphones were also recovered. Two firearms, a 38 revolver and a 9mm pistol, and 12 rounds ammunition were discovered hidden in cupboards.”

Seven suspects, including a 38-year-old female, were arrested.

Beetge said the value of the goods recovered are estimated at R300 000.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of possession of stolen property and illegal possession of unlicensed firearms.

Beetge said the suspects will also be investigated to determine their possible involvement in the other hijacking cases. – ANA