Cops kill two hijackers
2008-08-18 00:44
Johannesburg - Two suspected hijackers were shot dead during a shoot-out with the police in Atteridgeville in Pretoria, police said on Sunday.
Spokesperson Inspector Daniel Mavimbela said the men, believed to be part of a gang, were nabbed by police through a tracker signal from a hijacked Volkswagen on Saturday night.
It had been hijacked in Hercules earlier this month.
"Two suspects jumped out of the stationary Kombi to avoid arrest when they saw the police," said Mavimbela, adding that one man was shot after pointing a firearm towards an officer.
Mavimbela said one wounded suspect jumped over a fence into a residential yard where he collapsed and died.
A stolen handgun was found in the man's trousers while another one was found lying inside the yard on the ground, he said
Further investigations led police to a house in the area where another group member was hiding.
"The suspect shot himself in the head when he saw police.
He died on the scene. Four more alleged hijackers were arrested inside the house," Mavimbela said.
A stolen firearm, a retail till and a scale were recovered.
It is believed the gang might be linked to several other cases within the greater Pretoria area and outside Pretoria.
All the arrested men would appear in the Attridgeville Magistrate's Court soon.
- SAPA