A brazen, armed car hijacker who left a trail of evidence after committing crimes in separate occasions, was arrested by the Botshabelo police yesterday, 28 February. According to initial findings by the police, this hijacker is also linked to an armed robbery of an individual.
Col. Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the police in the Mangaung municipality, said initial investigation reveal the 38-year-old male suspect committed the crimes on different dates. He said the man’s arrest was a result of reliable information a source provided the police regarding a hijacked silver Volkswagen Touran.
Covane said the suspect is expected to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrates’ Court this week, facing charges of robbery with a firearm and car hijacking. He said the successful tracing of the hijacked vehicle and subsequent arrest of the suspect also led to a breakthrough in the investigation regarding the robbery of an individual at gunpoint on 7 February.
“The team members traced the hijacked vehicle to a house in H2 Section where it was found parked inside the garage. The police received information about a hijacked silver Volkswagen Touran which had been taken to a house in U Section in Botshabelo,” said Covane.
He said upon members conducting a thorough search at the suspect’s house in H2 Section, they also discovered incriminating evidence linking him to the armed robbery of an individual earlier this month.
“A black backpack, containing identity documents of the victim robbed at gunpoint were discovered. A case of robbery with a firearm was opened earlier during the month for investigation,” said Covane. He said two cases were opened, armed robbery and vehicle hijacking, against the suspect.
