CAPE TOWN - Preliminary investigations into the escape of three prisoners who have since been rearrested has revealed that they opened a panel in the roof of the truck forcefully, disembarked the vehicle through the roof and jumped off the moving vehicle near the Glentana bridge.
They escaped from the police van in George along the N2 on Monday.
Police said the three detainees between the ages 27 and 30 escaped while in transit from Mossel Bay Magistrates’ Court to George Correctional Services at about 4.30pm.
The detainees were attending court for serious offences such as ,murder, robbery, housebreaking with the intention to robbery, theft out of motor vehicle, assault GBH, according to police.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said police launched a manhunt and residents joined in assisting the police using drones.
They were rearrested hours after their escape.
“Members immediately called for reinforcement from George and Mossel Bay with the activation of the Eden Cluster Crime combating team and other specialised Units within SAPS who were joined by Neighbourhood / Farm Watch Volunteers. They immediately ensued with a search and managed to rearrest the detainees within hours after their escape.
“The success was due to the joint effort by all involved, including two private individuals who used their drones to trace two of the escapees,” he said.
Cape Times