Johannesburg - SAPS officers foiled a truck hijacking on the M1 North on Monday morning after a gang tried to make off with an eight-ton truck.
An unconfirmed number of hijackers ditched the truck, which was carrying a load of tyres, on the freeway next to the Booysens off-ramp and ran away in different directions on foot, with the police giving chase.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said police officers were on a routine patrol when they saw a truck that had been reported hijacked in Kagiso on the freeway, next to Gold Reef City.
When they stopped in front of the truck, a black Mercedes-Benz that had stopped behind the truck fired shots at the police officers who returned fire.
“The suspects then drove away. No officers were injured, but we believe the suspects might have been wounded,” said Dlamini.
He said the truck with a load of tyres had been impounded.
The robbers who had been driving the truck evaded the police.
A hunt for the hijackers has been launched.
The Joburg Metro Police Department also played a part in the action.
They were called in by the SAPS to assist them in their investigation.
JMPD spokeswoman Inspector Edna Mamonyane said: “We joined the situation because the SAPS needed back-up. We had to close two roads on the M1.”
Officers were seen searching houses along the M1, near the Gold Reef City area.
They were looking for the robbers who had managed to flee from the scene.
Matthews Baloyi, a photographer from The Star, who spoke to witnesses at the scene, was told a suspect was reportedly shot in the chest.
“The suspect ran towards the Booysens Extension area.
“He was shot in the chest with an R5 rifle. Only one suspect was arrested,” said Baloyi, quoting the witness.
Other witnesses said almost 50 officers and a helicopter assisted in the search.
The suspect left a trail of blood on trees and on the road towards Booysens.
A Mercedes-Benz found by the police is believed to be that used by the gang.
The Star