Police have established bogus metro police officers stop and hijack courier vans operating in Spartan.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, Kempton SAPS spokesman, two men were hijacked by these "officers" on Tuesday.
The incidents occurred 10 minutes apart and one street away from each other.
The first hijacking happened at the corner of Forge and Newton streets at 5.20pm. A truck, escorted by a bakkie, was approached from behind by a black Audi A4. The bakkie was forced to stop. The Audi was fitted with a police siren and blue lights.
"When the bakkie turned into Newton Street the driver saw a uniformed traffic cop standing next to the stop sign. He stopped to seek help but the man disappeared.
"The Audi appeared and five armed men jumped out and ordered the two occupants of the bakkie to get out. They took a gun with live rounds and two cellphones from the bakkie.
"The occupants were then told to get into the Audi and lie face down. They were transported in a panel van to Chloorkop and left stranded," said Mtshali.
The bakkie was later recovered outside Flame in Edleen, stated Mtshali.
In the second incident a driver on duty in a company truck was driving along Rigger Road when a blue Opel Corsa bakkie flashed its lights. The driver wore a metro police uniform.
"The driver stopped and the 'officer' approached him gun in hand and demanded his driver's licence. Three other men got out of the Corsa and forced the occupants of the truck out.
"They tied their hands with cables, covered their faces and took them to the back of the Corsa. The occupants were driven to China Gate and dropped off. They found a woman who helped cut the cables and called for help.
"Meanwhile, the truck with boxes of electronic appliances was recovered on Spanner Road," said Mtshali.
To report a crime in the Spartan area, call the sector four patrolling vehicle on 071-675-6820 or 071-675-6821.
Source: Kempton Express
