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CLAREMONT'S Main Road saw a car crashing, armed men scattering and police giving chase after a 59-year-old woman was hijacked at gunpoint in her A Class Mercedes Benz at her Newlands home at 13:00 on Thursday, 17 January.

Captain Angie Latchman, spokesperson for Claremont Police Station, says that after taking the car, three armed hijackers crashed it into a parked truck on the Main Road between Grove Avenue and Brook Street, before fleeing the scene.

Police confirm this incident was one of six hijackings and armed robberies reported in five days ? from 14 to 18 January ? at local police stations.

"Criminals were probably also on holiday. Now they are back to business," says a furious Pinelands resident after his son was hijacked in front of his house in Homestead Way on the same day.

Hussain Shah, a Pakistani businessman who runs a cellphone shop in Ralph Street, Claremont, says 2008 seems like it will be a hard year for them after five armed men ransacked his store and fled with 70 cellphones and a large amount of airtime.

Samwer Ramza, who has two cellphone stores in Claremont and Mowbray, says his store opposite the Mowbray Police Station was robbed three weeks ago.

"Last year was actually a good year compared to 2005 and 2006. I don't know what is going on this year."

Mike Kabat, chairperson of the Claremont Community Police Forum (CPF), says: "I am also aware of the increasing number of hijac?kings and armed robberies.

"We still need to sit with police to find out the actual reason behind this."

Senior Superintendent Gerda van Niekerk, station commissioner at the Claremont Police Station, explains: "There were less people in the area during the festive season, as they were on holiday. Now they are back, so more crime is being reported.

"The good news is we have already made a few good arrests after the incidents. Our members are all in position for quick responses."

Tom Crafford, chairperson of Claremont CPF Sector One, says: "We do have high police visibility and security patrols in the area, but these criminals are professionals; they act very quickly ? usually a few minutes."

Inspector Lydon Sisam, spokesperson of the Rondebosch Police Station, says: ?Besides two armed robberies reported last week, we also saw an increase in housebreaking and theft of and theft out motor vehicles.

"Residents should be vigilant at all times, specially after such a quiet festive season."

As quite a number of hijackings have taken place in driveways, Kabat advises people to "not enter your home directly if you suspect you are being followed".

"It is better to drive around and see if you are still followed. If so, drive to the nearest police station to seek help."

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