Three Arrested After Driving Hijacked Toyota Hilux Into Police Station
Three suspects are set to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for “disrespecting the authorities” by parking a hijacked vehicle at a police station.
They were apprehended at Witbank police station in Mpumalanga after parking a white double cab Toyota Hilux that had been reported hijacked in Diepsloot, Gauteng, in November 2022.
They face charges of possession of a reportedly hijacked vehicle.
“Three suspects aged between 32 and 47 disrespected the authorities when they tried to make themselves smart by parking a hijacked vehicle at Witbank police station,” Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli said.
He stated that they entered the police station around 10.30 a.m. on September 5.
A police officer saw the vehicle and got suspicious after noting that it was parked but the occupants remained seated inside.
The officer went to investigate, but the driver of the Toyota Hilux got out and fled.
“The other two passengers were arrested after it was established that the vehicle was hijacked,” said Mdhluli.
“Later on the day, at about 2pm, the driver tried his luck and came to the police station again with the hope of taking the vehicle. Little did he know that police were waiting for him hence he was arrested.”
According to him, the three are scheduled to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today on charges of possessing a reported hijacked vehicle.
“Further investigation will determine whether more charges can be added against the suspects,” said Mdhluli.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, provincial commissioner of the SA Police Service in Mpumalanga, praised the officers “for their vigilance” that resulted in the trio’s arrest and the recovery of the vehicle.
“As the police in this province, we have adopted the slogan of not sleeping. This implies that we remain vigilance hence the suspects were caught off-guard as they never thought someone is watching,” said Manamela.
“We also want to tell members to keep up the good work. The community together with their properties are safe in the hands of the men and women in blue.”
