A suspect who police believe is the kingpin of an international caliber vehicle hijacking syndicate operating in the suburbs of Johannesburg has been tracked down and arrested.
It is said that the syndicate targets luxury vehicles in Johannesburg, and after hijacking their victims, they will then coordinate the transport of the vehicles to neighboring countries.
According to police reports, Gauteng’s top law enforcement agencies came to this joint operation to identify the man and trace him to a single location.
Police further claimed that the suspect has, until now, worked systematically and meticulously to cover his tracks making it very difficult for law enforcement officials to bring him to book.
That’s why a team comprising members of the South African Police Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in Soweto, SAPS Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit, Bad Boyz Security, Tracker Connect, Vision Tactical Security, Insurance Crime Bureau, and Hollard Insurance came together to tackle one of Joburg’s most wanted criminals.
Information received
Thursday morning – February 2, 2023 – the police received the call they had been waiting for.
Informants told us that the suspect was expected to be at one of the shopping malls in Johannesburg.
Here, suspects and gangs are said to operate frequently. They will identify their victims on a regular basis and when the opportunity arises, they will attack and carry out the robbery. But the tables can be turned on this particular day.
The suspect arrived in a gray Mercedes Benz
After setting up in the mall, the team continued to monitor and monitor the surrounding area. Eventually, they saw the suspect drive into the mall in a gray Mercedes Benz.
He drove his car straight into the mall’s basement parking lot, out of public view.
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Making sure the coast was clear, he made his way to the White Ford Ranger which was also parked in the basement. He unlocked the vehicle, got in, and drove to the exit.
The police attacked the suspect
Then the team attacked the suspect as he was about to leave the mall. Police took him out of the vehicle and took him into custody.
After obtaining the Ford Ranger registration number and relevant information, they were able to determine that the vehicle was also stolen.
Initial investigations revealed that the Ford Ranger was stolen from its owner in Alexandra. The police also checked the arriving Mercedes Benz car. It was discovered that this vehicle was also linked to a burglary in the Moffatview area.
Interrogations and investigations are ongoing
The suspect was questioned and police were able to trace his whereabouts.
When he arrived, he immediately found a white Toyota Fortuner that seemed to have been vandalized. Police added that the team then decided to scour the area, hoping to find more evidence.
“After doing this, many vehicle registration documents and passports were found. These were also seized.”
Also read: Man shot dead in botched hijacking in KwaZulu-Natal
Charged
The suspect was arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen and/or hijacked vehicle. He is expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on Monday, 6 February 2023. Police confirmed that more suspects will be arrested in connection with the hijacking syndicate pending further investigation.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the team for working hard to find and arrest the suspect. He also ordered the police to conduct a deeper investigation and profile the suspect as he believes he may be part of a larger syndicate.
Also read: WATCH: Hijacker shot while trying to steal SUV in KZN
*Compiled by Devina Haripersad