A Plumstead man was busted after he was caught within minutes of hijacking an e-hailing driver shortly after midnight.
The suspect, who had recently been released from prison, was busted yesterday after he was found hiding the driver’s valuables in coffee tins and abandoned the Toyota Etios near his home.
Combat Force Manager Michael Cameron explains officers Robin Fernandez and Riedewaan Heynes responded to a call for help from a resident after the driver knocked on their door.
“A client in Paul Kruger [Street] notified us that the driver came to his home after the hijacking seeking help. The hijacker booked a trip and when the driver arrived he was held at gunpoint and he stole the car, the driver’s cellphones and other valuables.
“The officers got a description of the car which was a silver Toyota Etios and found it abandoned in Coombe Road.
”They received a tip-off that the hijacker ran into a flat in Rotherfield Road and went to the address.”
Cameron explains the driver pointed out the hijacker in the house and officers found the cellphones hidden in a coffee tin as well as his driver’s licence: “He was taken to Diep River SAPS where he was charged and we discovered that he just came out of prison for hijacking.”
Police spokesperson, Colonel André Traut, confirms the arrest and says: “ At around 11.30 a 35-year-old e-hailing driver was hijacked at gunpoint in Pluto Road, Plumstead.
”The suspect fled in the complainant’s Toyota Etios and was later arrested by police. He is expected to make a court appearance in Wynberg once he has been charged.”