Bloemfontein - Five people were arrested after they allegedly hijacked a truck transporting cigarette cargo in Bloemfontein, Free State police said on Thursday.
The driver of a truck transporting cigarettes was pushed off the road in Bloemspruit by three suspects in a silver Toyota Corolla with a GP registration. They stopped in front of the truck and pointed him with a firearm, said spokeswoman Colonel Annelie Wrensch.
“One of the suspects drove the truck with the victim inside and dropped him off in Bochabela township.”
After dropping the victim off the men met with their accomplices in Park Road who awaited them with a white Toyota Quantum. The rear seats were taken out to make way for the robbed cargo, said Wrensch.
“The K9 Unit pounced of the suspects along Park Road, three of them were inside the Quantum. The two other suspects tried fleeing the scene in the Corolla. Police shot the tyres of the fleeing vehicle on Dealsville Road, forcing them to stop. The two were arrested on the spot.”
Police confiscated a pistol from the alleged robbers.
“They are aged between 32 and 36 years and will appear in court soon on charges of hijacking and armed robbery. Investigation will continue to possibly link them to other incidents of robbery and hijacking of trucks transporting cigarettes in the area,” said Wrensch.
No-one was injured during the incident.
ANA