Partnership between the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies proves to yield positive results in the recovery of stolen and hijacked vehicles in Mpumalanga.
The collaboration has helped in the recovery of a hijacked VW Golf 1 Velocity which was taken from a 27-year-old victim during a robbery at Shatale (in Bushbuckridge) on 15 September 2022.
According to information at police disposal, on that day the victim was visiting his brother at about 19h00. Upon the victim’s arrival at the gate, he called his brother to alert him of his arrival. Within a blink of an eye, three armed suspects reportedly approached him and pointed him with the firearm.
It is further said that he was forced into the back seat of his vehicle where all three suspects got into the vehicle and drove off with him. His mobile phone was also taken and one of the suspects sat with him in the backseat.
He was later dropped off in the bushes around Agincourt near Thulamahashe. The victim managed to walk towards the road where he was assisted with a mobile phone by security guards. He then managed to call the police who immediately responded.
Police conducted their investigation in partnership with other security cluster personnel on board which resulted in the recovery of the hijacked vehicle in Phola next to Masoyi.
In a separate incident, a Toyota Corolla was also recovered on 15 September 2022 at Kabokweni. Reports indicate that the vehicle was stolen during a house robbery in Bushbuckridge yesterday where two armed suspects stormed into a house where they held a man and his wife together with their two year old daughter hostage, robbed them of their belongings, including a TV plasma, cell phones as well as a silver Toyota Corolla. One of the suspects reportedly tried to rape the woman but his accomplice stopped him. It is said that the suspects then took their valuables and got away with the couple’s vehicle. After a while the couple managed to free themselves and went to the neighbours who helped them to report the matter to the police. Through the assistance of tracker, the vehicle was recovered. There were no suspects arrested but police are still in pursuit of them.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela acknowledged with much appreciation, the partnership that exists between the SAPS and the security forces. The General further reassured the public that police and other law enforcement agencies are working together to address theft of motor vehicles.