Durban - An undercover operation yielded success after a vehicle hijacked in Umbilo was tracked to a panel-beating shop in Pinetown on Monday.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said on September 12, the eThekwini District Task Team was doing a follow-up investigation regarding a vehicle that was hijacked at Keits Avenue in Umbilo.
“The investigation led them to a panel-beating workshop in New Germany where the stolen vehicle was spotted by the police who had posed as customers,” Ngcobo said.
Ngcobo said when the undercover officers enquired about the vehicle, they were informed that it was brought in by two men who were going to pick it up later that day.
“Police conducted observation on the premises and the two men were nabbed by police as soon as they arrived,” Ngcobo said.
She said the suspects, aged 29 and 33, were arrested for possession of stolen property, carjacking and kidnapping.
Describing the circumstances surrounding the hijacking, Ngcobo said it was alleged that the men held up the 26-year-old victim on September 6 while he was waiting for a friend.
“The men pointed firearms at him and he was forced to get into the back seat while one of the suspects drove his vehicle. They drove around with him until he was dropped off at Chesterville township,” she said.
Police said a case of carjacking was reported at Umbilo SAPS for investigation.
The suspects will soon appear before the Durban Magistrate’s Court.