Watch: Quick-thinking driver escapes armed hijacking in JHB

A vigilant motorist managed to fend-off a hijacking attempt in Johannesburg on Tuesday night, after two thugs attempted to steal his vehicle while he filled up at a petrol station.

Hijacking attempt foiled in Johannesburg

The foiled efforts to steal the car were caught on CCTV in Robertsham, which is located in the south of the city. Just after 18:50, two men can be seen making their way across the forecourt towards a parked Mercedes. The occupant can be seen behind the wheel as two attendants finish pumping the gas.

One of the crooks approaches the driver’s side door from behind and appears to brandish a gun towards the would-be victim. The other criminal is seen walking at the front of the motor. But, in this brief moment of confrontation, the quick-thinking of the civilian ultimately saved his life.

The vehicle pulls off at tremendous speed, swerving across the station and towards the exit. With tails between their legs, both of the hijacking suspects walk-off into the night.

Watch this quick-thinking driver avoid a hijacking in Johannesburg here:

ATTEMPTED HIJACK : TOTAL. ROBERTSHAM. COJ. GP. QUICK REACTION FROM DRIVER FOILED THE PERPS ATTEMPT. BE VIGILANT! TRUST NOBODY! pic.twitter.com/5gyctqF9gI

— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) July 29, 2020

Staying safe during lockdown

The driver can also be seen bravely ‘swatting away’ at the firearm as he makes his escape. No injuries have been reported in this incident, but police are probing the circumstances behind the event. SAPS hope to apprehend the two suspects as soon as possible, and the recorded footage will be a huge help to their investigation.

Crime analysts have noted that there’s been a general uptick in motor vehicle crime since lockdown restrictions were eased in June. With more people back on the roads, unscrupulous criminals can target victims with ease. However, these syndicates are also adapting to the ‘new normal’, by attacking motorists on their own driveways. The moral of the story? It’s simple: We have to remain vigilant at all times.