Cops crack down on truck hijackers, arrest seven suspects in Pretoria

Six men and a woman were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of hijacking a haulage truck in Strydfontein, north of Pretoria, after they were found in possession of suspected stolen property linked to the abandoned vehicle. 

“Police officers from Akasia were on a safer festive season patrol on Tuesday when they noticed officers from a vehicle tracking company, attending to a truck that was allegedly abandoned on Railway Street in the Orchards area.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the truck, belonging to a health care logistics company, was en route to a wholesaler for delivery of medical supplies,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.

Read: Truck hijacked by ‘fake police’ near Potchefstroom

Police discover stolen medical supplies in Strydfontein

#sapsGP Six men and a woman have been arrested by #SAPS Akasia on suspicion of staging a truck hijacking after the suspects were found on a plot in Strydfontein in Tshwane in possession of suspected stolen property linked to an abandoned truck. SWhttps://t.co/gEIIxsOn26 pic.twitter.com/rNwEHVKPFS

— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) December 31, 2019

The logistics company had activated its vehicle tracking company when they could not get hold of the truck driver on his mobile phone, and suspected the truck had deviated from its authorised route.

“Further investigations led police to a nearby plot in Strydfontein where police found some of the medical supplies that were allegedly offloaded from the truck. Seven suspects – six men and one woman – who were found on the plot were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property,” said Peters.

The value of the medical supplies is yet to be determined.

Gauteng provincial commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela on Tuesday applauded his charges for the success, and warned community members who collude with criminals that they will face the full might of the law.

“Not only will they face a charge of perjury, but they could also face an additional charge for their role in the commission of the crime, in this instance, possession of suspected stolen medical supplies,” said Mawela.

By African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Emsie Ferreira