Three men were arrested last Wednesday and Thursday for their suspected involvement in 17 cases of hijacking, robbery and kidnapping of metered taxi drivers, including those of the Uber service.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 29 years, were arrested on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 January by the provincial anti-hijacking task team and members of the Brackenfell detective services.
According to provincial police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk the arrests came after the escalation in the hijacking of Uber and metered taxis in the province since October last year.
Van Wyk confirms the suspects would order taxis under false pretences and when the driver arrived they would ask to be driven to a particular point. “On their way there, one of the suspects, who usually sat in the front of the vehicle with the driver, would point a gun at the driver and the one at the back would choke the victim at the same time. Thereafter they would typically rob the driver of his cellphone and other valuables, pull him out of the vehicle and drive away with the vehicle,” explains Van Wyk. Furthermore, in some incidences the driver would be ordered to get into the boot of the car after being robbed.
The suspects appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court today (Monday 8 January).
“We urge anyone who has more information about these crimes, or who may have fallen victim to these perpetrators to come forward and report similar incidents to the investigating officer, Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Pretorius, on 082 777 8499,” Van Wyk says. “All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.”
