About Us	Search	Advertising

	Brought to you by:

NO less than seven hijackings have been reported around Mowbray and Rondebosch since 30 April.

According to Inspector Lyndon Sisam of the Rondebosch Police Station, there is no apparent set pattern to the hijackings ? despite Riverton Road being the main target, and with most stolen vehicles being Volkswagens.

"These incidents have taken place at all hours of the day, but it does appear that they take place mostly as people leave or arrive at their homes," he says.

Inspector Angie Latchman, of the Claremont Police Station, says the Rondebosch, Rosebank, Newlands, Mowbray and Claremont areas have been hardest hit by the recent spate of hijackings.

Three suspects held a Mulvihal Road resident up at gunpoint at 19:30 on Wednesday, 30 April, demanding his car keys. One suspect attempted to shoot the resident after he wrestled with the men, but the firearm jammed and nobody was injured.

On Thursday, 1 May, two armed men held up a Lothian Road resident when she returned home at 12:15. The suspects made off with her handbag, cellphone, keys and VW Golf. The car was later recovered in Gugulethu.

Three men and a woman forced Milner Road residents into their house as they returned home at 18:40 on Thursday, 8 May, stealing household appliances and driving off in the residents' VW Golf.

A Mowbray resident was approached by two men who demanded his keys as he pulled his vehicle into the garage of his De Villiers Road home at 18:00. When he refused, one of the suspects cocked his gun, but the bullet fell out of the chamber. The suspects fled the scene on foot after the resident set off an alarm.

At 19:20 on the same day, a Mowbray resident was abducted in her white Mazda bakkie as she was leaving the Chai-Tai restaurant on the corner of Klipfontein and Raapenberg Streets. After the two suspects entered the vehicle on either side of her, she was forced to drive away from the restaurant. She was left unharmed on Raapenberg Road; the suspects fled with her car and cellphone. The car was later recovered in Langa.

In the most recent report, two armed suspects hijacked a Mercedes-Benz in Main Road, Claremont, when an estate agent got out of her vehicle to put up a property sign. Bystanders flagged down a patrol vehicle driving past the scene; one of the suspects pointed a weapon at the officers.

After the suspects eluded police in heavy traffic in Main Road, the car was found on the corner of Ednam and Calvin Streets ten mi?nutes later. The two men were then seen fleeing in the direction of Groote Schuur Primary School in Pinelands. In their attempt to get away, they hijacked a white VW Caravelle on the school grounds. The vehicle was fitted with a anti-hijacking device and cut out a few kilometres from the scene. The highjackers then had the vehicle collected by a breakdown service, claiming that the immobiliser was faulty.

According to Inspector Sisam of the Rondebosch Police, the breakdown service suspec?ted a crime had been committed and informed the police.

When the hijackers returned to collect the vehicle on Sunday, they were arrested in a joint operation by the Claremont and Rondebosch Police, the Dog Unit, and the Provincial Central Intelligence Unit. The 34 and 43-year-old suspects are set to appear in court tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 May).

It is not yet known which area in Cape Town the suspects are from. Police suspect they might be linked to other hijackings.

Superintendent André Traut, provincial SAPS spokesperson, says although it is too soon to say whether or not the recent hijac?kings are connected, the police are investiga?ting four of the incidents jointly.

"Due to the severity and number of recent hijackings, we have prioritised this matter and are performing regular sting operations as well as maintaining high visibility in hijacking hotspots," he says.

According to Inspector Sisam, the Rondebosch, Mowbray and Claremont Police units are currently sharing information in their efforts to curb hijackings. The Claremont Crime Combating Unit has also recently dispatched extra units in the area.

Mowbray Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Jonathan Hobday, says they are appealing to the public to be especially aware of their surroundings.

"We understand that hijackings are very difficult to police and that these criminals are highly organised, professional, armed and even ruthless."

However, he says the public can be proactive about these crimes by being aware of their surroundings and making use of safety and security services, such as ADT Security's "Meet and Greet" service.

Motorists are urged to reverse into their driveways or garages when possible, as this will increase the chance of escaping an attack.

He says hijackings will be high on the agenda at the annual general meeting of the Rosebank and Mowbray Civic Association tomorrow (14 May).

The meeting will be held at 19:00 in the Jenny Mallett Hall at St George's Grammar School in Little Mowbray.

Superintendent Tinus Fourie from the Mowbray Police Station, members of security operator ADT, and ward councillors Owen Kinahan and Cedric Thomas will attend the meeting.

	Back to top
©