Warning: Vehicle Theft and Hijacking on the Rise

Durban motorists are urged to be aware of suspicious vehicles or individuals when leaving or approaching destinations in order to avoid becoming a hijacking statistic.
“Two women were lucky to escape, unhurt, from an attempted hijacking in Umbilo on Tuesday,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.
“The driver was dropping her friend off at home when a silver-grey (cockroach-shaped) Toyota Corolla parked parallel to them blocking their path,” Mathios said.
“Two armed suspects got out of their vehicle and approached the women. One of the men pulled the friend out of the car and got into the passenger seat,” he said.
“The second suspect advanced on the driver and demanded the car keys. The motorist resisted, despite being threatened with a firearm and got into a tussle with the hijacker,” he said.
“The driver suddenly accelerated with the one suspect still in the car and collided with a tree. The passenger alerted neighbours to their plight by screaming loudly in the road,” he said.
“The crashed car and ensuing commotion caused the suspects to flee in their getaway vehicle. The only item stolen in the incident was the passenger’s cellphone,” he said.
“Luckily the victims were not injured during the attempted hijacking. Umbilo SAPS attended the scene and investigations are continuing,” he said.
In a separate incident, a stolen car was recovered by Blue Security armed response officers in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Amanzimtoti.
“Officers had responded to a call-out regarding a vehicle which had been stolen from a property in Astra Park, Kingsburgh,” Mathios said.
“Whilst gathering information surrounding the incident the units were informed by a passerby that the vehicle had been abandoned on the R603 nearby,” he said.
“The officers raced to the scene and recovered the vehicle much to the relief of its owner,” he said.