Car guard helps foil G’acres hijack attempt
A PORT Elizabeth woman managed to escape after two men with a toy gun tried to abduct her during a daylight hijacking at Greenacres shopping centre yesterday.
The two hijackers eventually fled in the woman’s VW Polo, but only after a vigilant car guard heroically ran across and smacked the toy gun out of the one hijacker’s hand.
The attack comes after a pregnant woman was abducted at gunpoint from the Greenacres secure undercover car park in broad daylight in late February.
Yesterday’s incident happened at the Woolworths parking area.
The visibly shocked woman, who lives in Walmer but declined to be named, said it all happened very quickly.
“I came out of the [complex’s] entrance and as I was going to get into my car two men were next to me with a gun.” She declined to comment further.
A Honda Civic was seen by witnesses dropping the two hijackers off shortly before the incident.
Police on the scene said the woman – in her 40s – went to Absa inside the complex. It is believed the hijackers thought she had withdrawn cash.
The section of the car park where the incident took place is owned by Woolworths, who declined to comment.
Profrent Vehicle Attendants manager Willie Bentz, whose guards monitor the car park, said: “According to the attendant, he saw the two men approach the woman and pull out a gun.
“As [the car guard] saw the gun he charged the one suspect and hit the gun out of his hand.
“The gun fell to the ground and broke which is when he realised it was a toy.”
Police spokesman Captain Johan Rheeder confirmed the woman’s vehicle was stolen.
“The VW Polo is gone but the woman was left behind. The vehicle details have been given to all police officers in the area who are on the lookout for it.”
Forensic experts on the scene took the toy gun away for tests.
“Our experts will analyse the gun, which will hopefully assist in identifying the suspects,” Rheeder said. By yesterday evening the vehicle had not been found.