At approximately 12h53 today, a Marshall Security Armed Response Officer was flagged down by a member of the public who advised that his friend had been hijacked of his white Toyota Yaris on Wednesday morning. The individual further stated that he had just driven past and noticed the vehicle parked on Stanhope Place, Briardene.
Armed Response Officers immediately responded to the area and located the vehicle abandoned. A vehicle check conducted with SAPS confirmed that the Toyota Yaris had been reported stolen. Greenwood Park SAPS were immediately dispatched.
The Marshall Security Emergency Dispatch Centre immediately contacted the vehicle owner, who confirmed that on Wednesday morning he had been travelling to work along Queen Nandi Drive when he was hijacked by six armed suspects impersonating SAPS officials. The victim was subsequently kidnapped and forced to withdraw approximately R30 000 from his bank account.
After withdrawing the funds, the suspects released the victim near a nearby shopping centre and fled. The victim thereafter opened a case at Greenwood Park SAPS.
Greenwood Park SAPS arrived on scene a short while later. With the assistance of Nettow Towing Services, the vehicle was transported to Greenwood Park SAPS for further processing and investigation.
In a separate incident during the early hours of this morning, the Marshall Security Emergency Dispatch Centre received panic activations from a client’s premises on Manfred Drive after the resident reported hearing noises in the garden.
Multiple Armed Response Officers were immediately dispatched to the property. Upon arrival and while conducting a property check, officers discovered a suspect hiding on the premises and immediately apprehended him.
Greenwood Park SAPS responded to the scene a short while later after the homeowner desired pressing charges against the suspect. The suspect was transported to the station for further processing and investigation.
These incidents highlight the importance of public vigilance, rapid reporting, and the ongoing cooperation between private security and SAPS in combating crime and ensuring community safety.
The successful recovery of a hijacked vehicle and the arrest of an intruder in separate incidents once again demonstrate that vigilance, rapid response, and strong partnerships remain critical in protecting our communities.
