SAPS
Three alleged truck hijackers were arrested on Friday morning after an unexpected encounter with a traffic official and brave civilian.
Spokesperson Captain Gerda Swart says two armed suspects hijacked the driver of a Mercedes truck, carrying cake flour on the N2 near Truckers Inn outside Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) shortly after 6 am.
She says a Provincial traffic officer, who was oblivious to the hijacking, saw the driver of the truck chatting on his phone and pulled him over on the side of the freeway.
Captain Swart says the moment the truck stopped, two suspects jumped out and got into a Renault Sandero and sped off.
She says the truck driver told the officer that the men were suspects busy fleeing and a member of the community who was on the scene started chasing after them in his private vehicle.
The civilian was driving past and saw the officer chasing after the car with his gun in hand. The man asked what had happened and shortly after gave chase.
Captain Swart says during the chase the driver of the white Sandero lost control as he drove onto an off-ramp and ended up in the bushes.
The three men in the vehicle aged between 23 and 30 were arrested on the spot.
They will appear in the Motherwell Magistrates Court soon on charges of vehicle hijacking.
Swart says a firearm and ammo was also found inside the vehicle which was reported stolen in Motherwell in December last year.
The suspects will therefore face additional charges for the illegal possession of firearms and ammo as well as possession of the alleged stolen property and reckless and negligent driving.
Acting Mount Road Cluster Commander, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso applauded the excellent arrests by the Provincial traffic officers as well as the brave community member for their vigilance and swift reaction.
