A 32-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday 14 January for possessing a hijacked vehicle and illegal ammunition, following a swift response by officers from Operation Shanela. The incident began earlier in the day when a white Toyota Quantum minibus was hijacked in Makhaza, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
At around 5:00 PM, officers, acting on a tip off, located the stolen vehicle in the Qandu Qandu informal settlement. As police approached, a group of men abandoned the vehicle and scattered in different directions. Officers were able to pursue one of the suspects, who was arrested and found to be carrying a loaded magazine.
The stolen vehicle was recovered and secured.
The suspect was arrested for both possessing the hijacked vehicle and illegal ammunition. He is expected to appear in Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court once charges are finalised.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement officers were on patrol in the Phillipi East precinct. Wayne Dyason the Law Enforcement spokesman said they spotted a white Ford Ranger, allegedly involved in a carjacking incident earlier that evening in Lower Crossroads opposite Watergate Mall, by three armed male suspects.
“The officers signaled the driver to pull over, but he ignored the order. This led to a brief pursuit and the vehicle was eventually stopped. Two occupants were apprehended. The third occupant fled the scene. A search of the vehicle revealed two cellphones, one belonging to the owner of the hijacked vehicle. The two male suspects were arrested for possession of stolen goods (cellphones),” said Dyason.