PAUL ROUX – The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Crime Combating Highway Patrol Unit arrested two suspects who attempted to hijack a diesel truck on the N5 Road, 20 kilometres outside Paul Roux towards Senekal after the driver reported the incident to the police.

It’s alleged that on, 24 March 2022, at approximately 23:50, the 34-year-old driver was driving from Durban to Bloemfontein on the N5 Harrismith when he noticed a suspicious blue VW Polo and Nissan Hardbody following him.

According to the truck driver, when he reached Paul Roux, he was accosted by three vehicles of which one of the suspects allegedly got on to the truck’s trailer in an attempt to hook it off. The driver alighted from the truck and ran for safety and managed to inform the nearby police station. The Paul Roux police immediately activated Highway Patrol on the N5 who responded swiftly and recovered the truck in the road. Upon a further search, members found two suspects with devices and arrested them. Through further investigation by Bethlehem Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit it was established that the two suspects were in possession of jamming devices. Both suspects were arrested and detained.

Two suspects, aged 35 and 44, are expected to appear before the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 March 2022, facing charges of attempted truck hijacking and possession of radio reception blocking device.

“The arrest came at the right time after re-deployments and increased police visibility with 24/7 patrols on national roads were implemented by the Provincial Commissioner’s office that aim to mitigate truck and car hijackings and cash in transit heist incidents. The Acting Provincial Commissioner applauded the members for the excellent work and quick reaction by the driver seeing that no fuel was drained from the truck, said the Free State Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Solly Lesia., Major General Solly Lesia.

Source: South African Police Service