Pretoria – Police recovered three hijacked vehicles and a suspected stolen car in shootouts with criminals in two separate incidents in Pretoria on Thursday.

A group of about six men, travelling in a Volkswagen Golf and a Polo Classic, went on a hijacking spree in Elarduspark south-east of the city centre on Thursday evening, said police spokesperson Inspector Percy Morokane.

When the Golf broke down, its occupants left the car next to Boeing Street and proceeded to hijack a green Toyota Camry around 20:00.

Some 10 minutes later, the group also hijacked a blue Toyota Corolla in the vicinity, Morokane said.

Police, reacting to an emergency call, noticed the Corolla and the Polo a few minutes later and gave chase. A brief shootout ensued, during which the Polo crashed into a ditch.

The Corolla also came to a stop and the occupants of the two cars ran away, Morokane said.

A police helicopter was sent to the scene, and one of the alleged hijackers was found hiding in bushes nearby. He was found in possession of a cellphone stolen from the owner of the Camry.

Police found two 9mm pistols, their serial numbers filed off, in the Polo.

It was later established that the Polo was hijacked in the same area on July 14. The Golf’s engine had been tampered with, and it was suspected to be stolen.

There was no sign of the hijacked Camry or the other hijackers, Morokane said.

In Soshanguve, two men hijacked a Toyota Venture around 21:00 in Extension 5. Police were alerted, and spotted the vehicle on the K8 driving from Rosslyn eastwards.

There was a shootout, after which the two hijackers managed to flee. The Venture was recovered, Morokane said.

Source: News24.Com
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/New…/p>