Two armed robberies and four reported hijackings that took place all in one day have shaken up the hamlet of Bathurst and police urge the public to report any information they might have regarding the suspects.
Two armed robberies and four reported hijackings that took place all in one day have shaken up the hamlet of Bathurst and police urge the public to report any information they might have regarding the suspects.
In the small town about 40 kilometres from Grahamstown, the first crime on Tuesday reportedly took place around 5pm at a foreign national's business at Freestone in Bathurst.
The 42-year-old shop owner was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two unknown men, who also had knives in their possession. The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, airtime and cigarettes and fled on foot. The total value of the stolen items is approximately R6 200.
Then slightly later on Tuesday evening another foreign businessman, aged 24, was also robbed by two men who entered his shop. "One was armed with a firearm," the shop owner said.
The suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash, airtime and cigarettes to the value of around R8 600. When they left the shop they fired a shot in the air and fled on foot. At approximately 6.30pm on that same night, a 28-year-old man was driving along Memani Street when he was stopped by two unknown men, who were also wielding a firearm and a knife.
The men demanded all his cash and then forced the driver out of his Toyota Corolla. But a small crowd began to form while the two suspects struggled to get the car to start. They then got out of the car, fired shots in the air and ran away.
As this was happening, two members of the Port Alfred Crime Intelligence Unit were in the vicinity and approached the stationery Toyota Corolla. As they stopped behind the stranded vehicle they were approached by two men who allegedly pointed guns at them.
Both of the crime intelligence members were unarmed and fled when the suspects gave chase. Both constables got away unharmed, but the suspects drove off with their official unmarked vehicle. The car was found shortly after it collided with an outside toilet a kilometre from where it was stolen.
Also on Tuesday evening, before 6pm, a 51-year-old man's Nissan bakkie was hijacked by two men, one of whom had a gun. The man wasn't harmed and ran towards Qabane Street where he noticed a group of people and some police officers gathered around a car accident.
The man told one of the officers that he had just been hijacked and his bakkie was later found abandoned on the R67 towards Port Alfred. Then at around 6.30pm, a 40-year-old local school teacher was hijacked on her way to Port Alfred.
When she was near the Hayes Siding she noticed a white bakkie standing still in the middle of the road and had to swerve to avoid colliding with it. She stopped her car after the near-accident and then two men approached her with firearms. Once inside the car, they ordered her to drive towards Port Alfred.
Not far from where they had departed, they came across an SAPS roadblock and the hijackers ordered the woman not to stop and drive on through.
Seizing this opportunity to alert the police, she drove into the rear of one of the cars that had been in an accident involving a police vehicle. She put her hands in the air to indicate that she was handing herself over. The hijackers jumped out of her car and fled with the woman's scarf, cell phone and handbag.
Police officers on the scene gave chase to the fleeing suspects and managed to arrest one man who is in his late twenties. Following these incidents on Tuesday two cases of armed robbery, four cases of hijacking and a case of reckless and negligent driving have been opened at the Bathurst police station for investigation.
Specialist investigators are currently combing each scene for evidence that could assist in the investigation. Police urge anyone who might have helpful information to contact the nearest police station or call 0860 010 111.
