GQEBERHA police recently made significant arrests in two separate incidents.
Two suspects were recently apprehended on charges of hijacking, kidnapping, and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition following a high-speed chase in New Brighton.
The arrests occurred after a routine patrol escalated into a confrontation, leading to the discovery of a hijacked victim hidden in the suspects’ vehicle on a Saturday evening.
According to police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, the police were patrolling the Mahambahlala area when, at about 23:20, they noticed a white VW Polo with five occupants driving around the area, in and out of side streets.
“It is said that on Seyisi Street, New Brighton, members wanted to stop and search the vehicle, but as soon as the vehicle noticed the SAPS vehicle, it sped off, and a high-speed chase ensued,” she reported.
The chase ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle at the traffic circle on Mavuso Street, M17 and Seyisi Street, colliding into the walls of the traffic circle.
Three suspects exited the wreckage unharmed and started firing shots at the police, with two managing to flee.
One suspect was apprehended with a firearm in his possession, while the driver, stuck inside the vehicle after the collision, was also arrested.
“While members were busy on the scene, they heard a noise coming from the boot of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, an unknown man crawled his way from the boot through the back seats and informed the members that he had been hijacked,” Van Rensburg added.
In a separate incident, SAPS KwaZakhele arrested a suspect and recovered stolen goods and two hijacked vehicles after suspects continued on a crime spree in Motherwell and KwaZakhele.
The first hijacking was reported at SAPS Motherwell.
It was alleged that at approximately 08:55 on Thursday, October 10, the complainant was driving out of his garage in Mgwenyana Street, NU6, Motherwell, with his Toyota Etios, when he was confronted by five suspects, one of whom was armed with a firearm.
The suspects forced him out of his vehicle and drove off with it.
Following the carjacking, the suspects continued to Mbilana Crescent, Kwazakhele, where they approached the principal of a public school who was outside talking to someone.
The suspects demanded cell phones and money, fleeing with laptops and cell phones.
They then abandoned the Etios and hijacked another vehicle, a blue Aveo, in Soweto on Sea, leaving the Etios behind, which was later recovered by members from Gqeberha K-9.
During routine crime prevention duties, SAPS KwaZakhele members noticed five suspects acting suspiciously in an off-street at Salamtu Street, KwaZakhele. When the suspects noticed the SAPS members, they fled on foot.
The police successfully apprehended one suspect and recovered seven cell phones and the blue Aveo. Both vehicles were impounded for further investigation.
Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg of SAPS commented on the incidents, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the police to combat crime in the area.
