motorist hijacking

Photo: @crimeairnetwork / TW

Botched hijacking: Motorist escapes ambush, thanks to boomgate [video]

The police are in search of a white VW Polo that was involved in an attempted hijacking, in Glenanda North, JHB.

motorist hijacking

Photo: @crimeairnetwork / TW

The motorist shown in this video will be glad that the boom gate to a complex, on Oakdene Park Drive, opened in time for the grand escape he or she pulled off.

Joburg motorist survives hijacking

Hijackings are one of the most common crimes in Johannesburg. While there has been a marked improvement in reported hijacking incidents in the province, police still dealt with 7 770 cases in 2018/19.

The incident that was captured on CCTV cameras, at the complex in Glenanda North, showed how the targeted motorist was helped by his or her vigilance, matched with a bit of timing and luck, in escaping that attempted hijacking.

The victim pulled up to the complex and as they were swiping their access mechanism onto the security scanner, which renders the lifting of the boom gate once access is granted, a white Volkswagen Polo was pulling up behind him.

Acting quickly, two suspects jumped out of the car with weapons, trying to accost the motorist. However, thankfully, the boom gate had opened and the motorist, aware that they were targets of a hijacking, sped off into the complex.

The suspects — left wanting — watched on as their prey had gotten away.

Details of the suspects

While it is believed that there were more suspects in the getaway car, police are in search of the two active gunmen that were caught on camera wielding a gun to the motorist.

Police have yet to issue an official statement on the matter. However, we know that — thanks to the CCTV footage — they were able to get the getaway car’s license number, which is HX 91YX GP.

At the time of publishing this article, police had not issued a statement on the hijacking incident.

Watch: Robbery botched by boom gate