Local News
NW: Hijacking suspect arrested after dramatic chase─── MARK STEENBOK 09:41 Sat, 23 Sep 2017
Klerksdorp - A dramatic police chase in Klerksdorp led to the arrest of a 27-year-old suspect in connection with the hijacking of a panel van containing cigarettes set to be worth more than R300 000.
Police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh, says two persons travelling in the van were approached and stopped by an unknown number of suspects near Hartbeesfontein yesterday morning.
She says the suspects pointed the two men with rifles, took control of the van and drove off.
Myburgh says the suspects later stopped on the R503 road and transferred the cigarettes to their Ford Focus and Mazda bakkie and left the van behind.
She says the police were alerted, which eventually led to shots being fired at the Mazda bakkie.
“Members from the Klerksdorp Tactical Response Unit also responded to the call. Police members tried to stop the Mazda bakkie near the T-junction in Klerksdorp. The driver, however, ignored the police and sped off. A police chase ensued and shots were fired."
The suspect could not continue driving as one of the tyres of the bakkie was damaged because of the shooting. The suspect was arrested and the police recovered 17 out of the 23 boxes of cigarettes.
The suspect will appear in the Hartbeesfontein Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
OFM News
Police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh :