Motherwell Cluster: Seven (7) suspects were arrested yesterday after three vehicles were recovered that were hijacked in separate hijackings.
In the first incident a white Hyundai 00 delivery vehicle was hijacked in Ranisi Street, NU8, Motherwell by three armed suspects. The vehicle was busy doing deliveries in the area at 14:30 when the driver and his assistant were hijacked at gun point. They were forced onto the back of the vehicle and the suspects drove off with them. At the first traffic light intersection, the victims managed to jump off the vehicle safely and ran to alert police. The vehicle was recovered an hour later at 15:30 when it was found abandoned in Mvubu street, NU1, Motherwell.
At the same time at 14:30 a white Isuzu bakkie used as a courier delivery vehicle was hijacked at gunpoint by two armed suspects in Mbeki Avenue, Govan Mbeki while they were delivering parcels. The vehicle was found abandoned in less than 10 minutes later in Bart Street, Ezinyoka. Some of the parcels were missing from the vehicle.
At 15:15 yesterday, in another separate incident, another delivery vehicle, delivering cosmetic products were hijacked at Captain Street, NU10, Motherwell. Two armed suspects forced the driver and his assistant off the vehicle at gunpoint and drove off with the white Nissan NP200 bakkie loaded with boxes containing cosmetics. They also robbed the complainants of 4 cellphones.
In less than an hour later at 16:00, the Motherwell Cluster Operational Command Centre (OCC) members found the vehicle abandoned in Mbokwana Street, NU10, Motherwell without its cargo. Further investigation led police to Ikamvelihle where a house was searched in Ingwe Street, NU1 and the cargo of boxes containing the cosmetics were discovered and confiscated. The four cellphones of the complainants were also recovered. Upon a further search of the premises, two firearms, a 38 revolver and a 9mm pistol with 12 rounds ammunition were discovered hidden in cupboards. A total of seven (7) suspects including a 38-year-old female were arrested. The ages of the six (6) male suspects range between 25 and 42 years old.
The firearms were discovered with their serial numbers removed and was sent for ballistic and forensic analysis.
The value of the goods recovered are estimated at around R300 000.
The suspects will be appearing in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on Monday 01 October 2018 facing charges of possession of stolen property and illegal possession of unlicensed firearms. The suspects will also be investigated to determine their possible involvement in the hijacking case and charges could be added to those positively linked to these cases.
The Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie applauded the arrests and added “We (SAPS) are clearing our streets from illegal firearms. In this last week we have recovered 14 firearms including a shotgun and a rifle that were stolen in a Pearston case. We have also arrested 14 suspects for illegal possession of these firearms and a further two suspects were killed in shootouts while committing robberies using firearms. SAPS will not tolerate illegal firearms and persons committing crimes using firearms will face the full might of the law. We urge our community to take a stand together with the SAPS in the fight against the proliferation of illegal firearms in our communities. “
The shotgun and rifle were recovered yesterday at 12:30 by OCC members after information was received. They were found in a bag behind a shack in Savanna Street, Kandokwenze, New Brighton. Arrests are expected to be made soon.
Source: South Africa Police Service