Swift reaction sees recovery of stolen, hijacked bakkies

TWO vehicles were recovered within 30 minutes yesterday after one was stolen and another hijacked in Port Elizabeth.

Yesterday morning, a Mazda bakkie was stolen from the Zonke SPAR carpark in Umnulu Street, Motherwell.

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the bakkie was reported stolen at about midday.

“The owner of the car had parked there in the morning and when he came out of the centre he saw his bakkie was missing,” he said.

“The matter was reported to police and within 15 minutes the suspect was arrested while driving the car.”

He said the vehicle was spotted in Daku Road heading towards Kwazakhele.

“Police managed to stop it. The driver, a 20-yearold, was arrested.”

Beetge said on searching the suspect, several vehicles’ keys and remotes were found.

“At this stage, it is unknown how he got these car keys and if they are for specific vehicles.”

At about 1pm, a Nissan delivery bakkie was hijacked in Njoli Street, New Brighton. “Three men forced the driver out of the car at gunpoint at the intersection,” Beetge said.

“The bakkie was en route to drop off five new cellphones at a shop.”

Within 20 minutes, the bakkie was found abandoned in Kwazakhele.