NATIONAL NEWS - According to a press release issued by provincial media spokesperson for the SAPS, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the combined efforts between the Gauteng SAPS, Mpumalanga SAPS as well as Tracker Connect, has resulted in three suspects aged between 26 and 36, being apprehended in eMalahleni.
The breakthrough came after the police analysed the suspects’ patterns, where they operated in certain areas including the N12 near Delmas as well as the N4 near eMalahleni, Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral.
The hijackers, masquerading as police officers, would follow their victims from as far as Nelspruit, in vehicles fitted with blue lights, forcing motorists to pull over.
The three suspects ran into the long arm of the law, after the Police spotted a VW Polo, fitting the description of the suspected vehicle.
The police pursued the vehicle, which had three occupants in it and after the driver refused to stop for authorities, a high speed chase ensued.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS, Lt. Gen. Mondli Zuma, applauded the combined efforts by the police as well as Tracker Connect.
Despite their breakthrough, Lt. Gen. Zuma reassured the public that a thorough investigation will be made into how the suspects acquired the SAPS equipment that aided them in committing these crimes.
The police cannot rule out the possibility that the suspects are involved in other crimes. Furthermore, the police will continue to hunt down the rest of the suspects involved in the hijacking scheme.
