Durban - The survivor of an early morning hijacking credits divine intervention for sparing his life after a bullet fragment from the misfiring gun of a panicky hijacker was found lodged in his jacket.
The victim, who asked not to be named, had just returned from mosque on Monday and was parked in the driveway of his Asherville home when the hijackers pounced.
As a precaution, the 61-year-old waits for the gate to close before he remotely opens his garage door.
He said he had been watching the driveway gate close through the rear-view mirror when three men ran in. He was pulled out of the car and forced to lie face down on the ground.
The men took R100 and the car key from his pocket.
A source said the men reversed the car out of the driveway and it is unclear why they panicked.
One of the hijackers may have been tucking his gun into his waist belt when a shot went off. The bullet ricocheted and struck the victim on his back.
“I felt a pain in my back and when my family ran out they noticed my jacket had blood on it. They rushed me to hospital. It was a superficial wound. Allah has a plan for everyone and if he wanted to take my life he would have. God’s intervention saved me,” he said.
Police found a piece of a jacket zip in the driveway. The family fetched the victim’s jacket to show police the bullet hole.
On closer inspection, police found a bullet fragment lodged in the jacket.
The car was found on the side of the road in Intersite Avenue, Springfield.
The father of one and grandfather of three had been the victim of two previous robberies at his home.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said hijackers had apparently been seen in the area in a white VW Golf before they ambushed the resident.
Jackson advised residents to be vigilant when arriving and leaving home because driveways were hot spots for hijackings.
“Criminals stake out their victims before striking. Vary your routes to work and home.
“Be aware of your surroundings. Stop parallel to the verge and make sure there are no suspicious individuals or vehicles around you before opening the gate,” he said.
“If you do notice anything suspicious, rather drive around the block. If a suspicious vehicle or individuals have not moved on when you get back, rather call your security company and the police to investigate,” Jackson said.
Sydenham police are investigating a case of hijacking.
Daily News