Johannesburg - An attempted hijacking, depicted in a video that’s gone viral, ended in a dramatic chase and shootout.
Four or five hijackers in a white BMW coupé tried to hijack a black BMW X5 early on Thursday on the corner of Rubenstein and Helois roads in Pretoria.
The video, taken by a witness, shows criminals dressed as police officers pulling over the X5 in the Moreleta Park suburb.
The clip shows the men struggling with a woman, throwing her on the ground and dragging her into the X5. A man then jumps out of the white car and flees.
Moments later, the woman - wearing a white top and grey skirt - runs away too.
After the woman escapes, the “officers” abandon the X5 on the roadside, jump back into their own car and drive off.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said the thugs were not able get far, before they were spotted by real police officers.
“As they were fleeing and weaving through traffic, Pretoria crime intelligence officers in the area caught sight of them.
“A high-speed chase ensued and the suspects fired shots at the police, who returned fire. It ended in Olifantsfontein, where a shootout ensued,” Mogale said.
While all this was going on, eyewitnesses had to be treated for shock, Netcare 911 spokeswoman Santi Steinmann said.
Mogale said the hijackers had jumped out of their vehicle and fled on foot. Police gear had been found in their car.
“It included a police bulletproof reflector jacket, a uniform, 74 rounds of ammunition, unlicensed firearms and R5 rifles.”
Police have launched an intensive search for the suspects.
The Star