28-year-old arrested for hijacking using a toy gun

A 28-year-old was arrested on Sunday morning for an alleged hijacking using a toy gun. 

HIJACKED WITH TOY GUN

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the alleged hijacking suspect was arrested at about 00:15 on Sunday morning, 6 March.

Naidu said patrolling Metro police members were busy with their policing duties when they noticed a suspicious maroon Datsun Go in Maku Street in NU 2 in Motherwell.

“It is alleged that on Saturday, 5 March 2022 at about 23:45, the owner of a maroon Datsun Go was seated in his vehicle at garage in Maku Street where he stopped to buy airtime.” 

While he was stopped at the garage an unknown male tried to grab his cellphone as he was loading the airtime. 

“Immediately two other men appeared and pointed a firearm at him.” 

“All three suspects got in and instructed the owner to drive off.”

“While in the vehicle, they robbed the complainant of his money.”

Naidu said Metro Police officials patrolling in the area, spotted the vehicle, and when they stopped it, the suspects alighted and started running. 

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“One suspect was apprehended by the officials and a toy gun was found in the vehicle.” 

The suspect aged 28 years old was arrested on a charge of vehicle hijacking.

Naidu said the 28-year-old would appear in the Motherwell Magistrates Court on Monday, 7 March 2022. 

“The search for the other two suspects is continuing.”

In other news, seven greedy suspects who went on a robbery spree were arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

ROBBERY SPREE IN KABEGA PARK

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said soon after a business robbery took place at a garage in Rocklands on Saturday evening all police vehicles were alerted to be on the lookout for a yellow Mazda 323 vehicle. 

“Within 3 hours after committing the first robbery, the greedy suspects struck again, this time robbing a garage in Durban Street in Kariega.” 

Naidu said in the first incident, at about 22:45 on Saturday evening 5 March 2022, a yellow Mazda 323 drove into a garage in Rocklands in the Kabega Park policing precinct. 

“There were five occupants in the vehicle of which three got out and pointed a rifle and a 9mm pistol at the petrol attendants.”  

Cash, keys, a card swiping machine, and the petrol attendants’ cellphones were taken. 

“The vehicle drove off towards Kariega.

She said while detectives were still attending to the complaint, they received information that the same vehicle was involved in another robbery at a garage in Kariega. 

SEVEN ARRESTED ON SUNDAY

It is alleged that at about 1:30 on Sunday morning, SAPS Uitenhage members spotted the yellow Mazda 323 in Lower Drostdy. 

Backup was requested and with the assistance of SAPS Despatch members, seven suspects were arrested.  

“The two firearms were also recovered.”  

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She said the suspects had already robbed the garage in Durban Road taking cash and an energy drink.

“Ownership of both firearms is still to be established and the vehicle was impounded for further investigation.” 

The suspects, all from Kwanobuhle, aged between 17 and 35 years old were detained on two cases of business robbery and are expected to appear in the Kariega magistrate court soon. 

“Detectives are also probing their alleged involvement in another business robbery which took place in Cuyler Street in Kariega on Friday evening.” 

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso commended the members for the arrests and confiscation of the firearms.