INCREASE IN NUMBER OF N3 HIJACKINGS – MESSAGE FROM HEIDELBERG SAPS STATION COMMANDER

[Nat Quinn]

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF N3 HIJACKINGS – MESSAGE FROM HEIDELBERG SAPS STATION COMMANDER

There has been a marked increase in hijackings along the N3 in the Heidelberg area and the Station Commander of the Heidelberg police station is pleading with the public to take this message to heart.

Colonel Phiwe Ndwandwe has requested that under NO circumstances should motorists stop to give lifts to hitch-hikers. In the same breath, he also encouraged citizens NOT to hitch-hike as they were now soft targets for criminals. This was evident recently when Heidelberg Times reported on siblings who had been picked up, robbed and shot when hitch-hiking in the area.

Hitch-hiking on a national highway is also against the law.

Although a number of hijackings had been reported in and around Heidelberg recently, there were a number, especially truck drivers, who had given false statements with regards as to how they had been hijacked. Colonel Ndwandwe reiterated that this too was a criminal offence. He also urged trucking companies to warn their drivers of the dangers of stopping in dark places and/or picking up people looking for a lift – the small amount of cash they could earn from this was not worth putting their lives in danger for.

Colonel Ndwandwe said that the N3 was now a hotspot for criminals but also warned those using alternate roads that criminals were flexible and not limited to certain routes.

Motorists are also advised to not stop for any blue light vehicle, but rather to put their hazards on (to acknowledge seeing the vehicle) and drive to the nearest police station. They should also send a pin location to their closest family or friends in case of any criminal activity.

Colonel Ndwandwe says that a high-performance vehicle has been requested so that more effective patrols can be conducted along the N3.

If everyone takes this message to heart we will be making the jobs of the criminals so much more difficult while, at the same time, making the jobs of our men and women in blue a lot easier.

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