DURBAN Criminals who think that they can get away with robbing and hijacking vehicles, forget that they cannot escape the long arm of the law. Yesterday the nightmare became a reality for a 46-year-old suspect who was arrested by police officers from Umzinto SAPS and the K9 Unit during an intelligence driven operation. The police officers acted on information with regards to suspicious activities at a farm in Umzinto and proceeded to the scene. The suspects spotted the police officers approaching and fled into nearby bushes.

A search was conducted and one suspect was arrested for being in possession of stolen property and carjacking. Four vehicles including two trucks, a BMW sedan and Corsa bakkie were seized after it was established that they were stolen from Durban and brought to Umzinto. One of the trucks contained goods to the value of one million rands, comprising of Hi Fi systems; tyres and mag rims.

On 15 January 2020 at 18:30, a truck driver was on the M7 in Rossburgh waiting for the robot to turn green when a group of armed men threatened him and pushed him into the back seat. They drove off to Umzinto where they kept him hostage while attempting to dispose of the stolen goods. The driver was rescued by the police and charges of carjacking and possession of stolen property were opened.

The suspect appeared in the Umzinto Magistrates Court today for possession of stolen property and the case was remanded to 21 January 2020. He will appear in the Durban Magistrates Court soon for the carjacking case.

Source: South African Police Service