Durban – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested four alleged car hijackers after a firefight in which one suspect was wounded.
Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said that on Wednesday at about 9am, members of the police were conducting patrols in the Shallcross area when they heard reports about a hijacked vehicle in the area.
“They immediately proceeded to Burlington Drive where they intercepted the hijacked vehicle, a white Hyundai,”Zwane said. “The suspects fled with the vehicle into St Wendolins, Mariannhill.”
Police radioed for further assistance and police from Malvern responded and intercepted the hijacked vehicle on Ukuthuna Road, St Wendolins.
“The suspects fired at police and police retaliated. The suspects crashed the hijacked vehicle and fled into a nearby house. One suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.
“Police K9 rendered assistance at the scene and a further three suspects were arrested, aged between 20 and 25 years. Three suspects were taken to a local hospital for treatment and one suspect detained at SAPS Chatsworth.”
Police also seized cartons of cigarettes with an estimated value of R60,000 in the white Hyundai while one Glock pistol was also recovered at the scene and seized by the police.
“Upon further investigation, police established that a vehicle, a VW Caddy, belonging to British American Tobacco Company was hijacked by the suspects on Burlington Road, Shallcross. It is alleged that the suspects transferred the cigarettes from the VW Caddy into the white Hyundai.
“Investigations revealed that the white Hyundai was taken in a carjacking during October 2015 in the Chatsworth policing precinct.”
The VW Caddy was later found abandoned at Balington.
One of the suspects, a 22-year-old, had previously been arrested for carjacking. Two weeks ago, the suspect had been released on bail by the Umzinto Magistrates’ Court.
Zwane said three suspects were under hospital guard. They would appear in the Chatsworth Magistrates’ Court soon.
“The swift reaction of the vigilant members and the arrest of the suspects is commended. The recovered firearm will be taken to ballistics to determine if it was used in any commission of crime in the country,” said KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye.
African News Agency
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