An increasing trend of truck and vehicle hijackings throughout the Free State has placed the police on high alert.
Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, Corporate Communication and Liaison: Provincial Office, says they are cautioning both truck drivers and motorists to be aware.
The Free State police are especially concerned about a group of armed males who use private vehicles fitted with blue lights to stop drivers. “They pose as traffic officials or police members,” says Kareli.
The suspects are heavily armed. Their modus operandi is to stop the driver of the targeted truck and two or three suspects will then force the driver out of the truck at gun point.
The driver will then be put into the hijackers’ vehicle, blindfolded and robbed of his belongings and money. The perpetrators will then take the victim to a secluded area and leave him there with his hands and feet tightly bound.
The suspects then offload the truck’s cargo, and abandon the vehicle on the roadside.
The police have received reports of incidents from motorists using the R82 road between Sasolburg and Koppies, the R30 between Welkom and Orkney, as well as the R59 between Parys and Sasolburg. The N1 stretch between Bloemfontein and Heuningspruit is also a hot spot.
Kareli says both truckers and motorists should be aware of these trends.
“We are advising motorists to stop offering lifts to unknown people,” she says. This follows a recent incident near Bronville, where armed hitchhikers attacked a motorist and left him abandoned on the road.
People must report any suspicious vehicles by calling the Police Emergency number 10111 or Crime Stop on 08600-10111. Motorists who feel threatened or in danger must drive to the nearest safe spot.
“All Highway Patrol Unit vehicles are marked and members will follow you if you indicate that you don’t feel safe to stop at that spot,” she says.
