Community-coordinated information resulted in the swift arrest of an alleged hijacking syndicate in Witbank on Saturday 09 and Sunday 10 December 2023.
Middelburg Flying Squad members received information from a reliable source that the most wanted suspect allegedly involved in numerous car hijackings, business, and armed robberies was spotted at Lynnville on the said Saturday (09 December 2023).
Members from Middelburg Flying Squad and guards from a private security company operationalised the information at about 23:45, whereby the suspect was arrested. Preliminary investigation led members to other two addresses in Lynnville and Coronation respectively wherein two firearms were recovered, with one magazine. One round of ammunition was also recovered in Lynnville. Meanwhile, at Coronation, a black revolver was recovered by the astute members. Three suspects aged between 30 and 34 were nabbed on charges of car hijackings as well as for possession of unlicensed firearms with ammunition.
Middelburg Flying Squad members continued with their investigations in partnership with Witbank Crime Prevention and Detectives, where one alleged hijacking suspect was arrested in Klarinet on Sunday, 10 December 2023. The 32-year-old suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm as well as one ammunition. The recovered firearm was reported stolen in Piet Retief two months ago, in October 2023.
Investigations further led police to another suspect who was found in possession of car keys of a Dodge vehicle. The probe led police to where the vehicle was kept, and on thorough investigation, it was established that the vehicle was reported hijacked in Witbank early this month, December 2023. A 26-year-old suspect was arrested for car hijacking.
All five arrested suspects are expected to appear at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday 12 December 2023, facing the said charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has welcomed the arrest and commended the team for their displayed collaboration and dedication.
