5 held for hijacking

2010-06-11 14:02

Johannesburg - Five people were arrested following the hijacking of a DHL vehicle in Mabopane in Pretoria on Friday, Matrix Recovery Service said.

The DHL vehicle was carrying goods for British American Tobacco SA (BATSA), said Hernus Vermeulen, senior marketing manager at Matrix, in a statement.

Seven suspects, two of whom were dressed in police uniforms, pulled the DHL vehicle off the road and allegedly stole the vehicle's cargo.

"They then locked the driver and his colleague in the back of the van and sped off in a VW Polo and Mercedes Sprinter.

"The driver and his colleague fortunately managed to get out of the vehicle and call for assistance."

Both police and Matrix recovery agents were placed on alert and found the Mercedes Sprinter shortly after the incident on the M4 heading towards Brits.

"A shoot-out occurred in which two suspects were wounded.

"The SAPS managed to arrest five of the suspects and all cargo was recovered."

The teams were still on full alert for the VW Polo, Vermeulen said.

- SAPA