Gone in 24 hours: seven vehicles hijacked in Bay
Seven vehicles, including delivery trucks, were hijacked in the Bay over 24 hours.
By midday on Wednesday, six of the vehicles had been recovered, one of which had already been stripped.
Of the seven hijackings, three were on Tuesday and four on Wednesday.
These include Toyota Corollas and delivery bakkies and a seven-ton truck.
The hijackings were carried out within hours of the release of the police’s crime statistics.
The numbers show that, on average in the Bay, 23 cars were stolen and 12 hijacked each week.
In one of the recoveries, two men were caught red-handed stripping a Toyota Tazz which was parked in Dubula Street, New Brighton.
All four car doors, some seats, the bonnet, the boot, bumper, engine parts and the battery had been removed.
Police said all seven hijackings were carried out by two or three hijackers – some armed with knives and others with firearms.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said it was doubtful the hijackings were linked, as some occurred at about the same times, in different areas.
The Tazz was hijacked on Tuesday night in Johnson Road, Zwide.
“By 10.30am on Wednesday, the vehicle was found in New Brighton.
“Two suspects were arrested while removing parts from the car,” Beetge said.
At about the same time, a Toyota Corolla was recovered abandoned in Vani Street, Motherwell.
“The Corolla had been reported hijacked in Zwide at about 9pm on Tuesday night by two to three men armed with firearms,” Beetge said.
By 11.30am on Wednesday, police had recovered another hijacked Corolla, abandoned near Bafana Street, Soweto-onSea.
It was hijacked at about 9pm on Tuesday along the Addo Road in Wells Estate.
At about 8.30am on Wednesday morning, a jikeleza driver was hijacked in Sowetoon-Sea by three men who held him at knifepoint.
“The driver was stabbed, not seriously, and taken to hospital. The suspects fled with the Opel Monza,” Beetge said.
At about 10.30am on Wednesday, a truck transporting fruit and vegetables was hijacked in Ntshekisa Road, New Brighton.
It was recovered in Duka Street, Bloemendal, about an hour later. All the stock had been stolen.
At 11am, a bakkie was hijacked outside the Daku Shoprite in Kwazakhele.
It was found within 10 minutes at the Single Men’s Quarters in New Brighton.
At midday, a Nissan delivery bakkie was hijacked in Volkwyn Street, Bethelsdorp.
“The bakkie was driven by the suspects but then abandoned about 100m down the road,” Beetge said.
Within 15 minutes, the getaway vehicle was found in a side street in KwaDwesi.
“It appears the suspects did not have time to offload the goods.
“All the cellphones were found in the abandoned vehicle,” Beetge said.