Free State police say they have noted an increase in reports of motorists hijacked at gunpoint by hitchhickers in different parts of the province.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli has warned motorists not to offer transport to unknown people.
He said it’s believed there is group of armed males who use private vehicles fitted with blue lights stopping drivers posing as traffic officials or SA Police Service members.
“The suspects who are heavily armed would stop the driver of the targetted truck and two or three suspects would get out of the vehicle and force the driver off the truck at gun point,” Kareli said in a statement.
“The driver will then be put in the suspect’s vehicle blind-folded and robbed of his belongings and then taken to a secluded area and left there with his hands and feet tight-bound. The truck’s cargo will be offloaded to the suspect’s truck and be left on the road,” he explained.
Kareli said in one incident, armed hitchhikers attacked a motorist and left him on the road.
Most of the reports, according to the police, have been made by motorists using the R82 road between Sasolburg and Koppies, the R30 between Welkom and Orkney as well as the R59 between Parys and Sasolburg.
The N1 stretch between Bloemfontein and Heuningspruit has also had several cases reported.
Kareli cautioned motorists and truck drivers to be vigilant and, while travelling, to avoid falling victim to the criminals.
He said motorists can report any suspicious vehicle by calling the Police Emergency number 10111 or the Crime Stop: 08600 10111, while driving to the nearest safer spot.
He said all SAPS highway patrol vehicles are marked and the police will follow you if you indicate that you don’t feel safe to stop at a particular spot as directed. – Staff Reporter