Durban hijacking syndicate exposed
Karl van der Merwe, Blue Security’s community manager for Durban Central, said the findings highlight the value of information sharing.
Blue Security has confirmed that its tactical unit assisted KwaMashu SAPS and tracking companies in a joint operation on Friday, August 29, which led to the exposure of a hijacking syndicate targeting e-hailing drivers in Durban Central.
The syndicate was specifically targeting Toyota Rumions. Their modus operandi involved booking a ride, holding the driver at gunpoint, and then using a jamming device to disable the vehicle’s tracking unit.
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Karl van der Merwe, Blue Security’s community manager for Durban Central, said the findings highlight the value of information sharing. “By working together and monitoring patterns, we were able to identify an area where these crimes were being carried out. Collaboration between private security, SAPS, and tracking partners is essential in keeping our communities safe,” he stated.
During the operation, a chop shop on Mthini Road was located, where a silver Toyota Rumion hijacked in Umbilo the night before was recovered. The tactical unit also identified a white Toyota Rumion linked to the suspects.
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When members attempted to intercept the vehicle, it fled and crashed into a ditch on Simbazi Road. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
The SAPS later took into custody a man who had claimed to be a hijacking victim. His vehicle matched the description of the one used by the suspects.
The co-ordinated efforts of KwaMashu SAPS, tracking partners, and Blue Security’s tactical unit led to the recovery of a hijacked vehicle and valuable intelligence on the syndicate’s operations.
