Armed robbery, hijacking in Bathurst area

A STRING of armed robberies and car hijackings in the Bathurst area on Tuesday night may be related, according to police.

Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender said the first incident happened at about 5pm, when an Ethiopian man who runs a business in Freestone was robbed at gunpoint by several unknown men.

"One of the suspects had a firearm and the others had knives,” said Govender.

The suspects fled with about R6 200 worth of airtime and cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash.

At about 6.10pm that same evening, another Ethiopian businessman was robbed by several men, also armed with a firearm and knives. They took an undisclosed amount of cash, and goods to the value of R8 600.

When they fled, they fired a shot into the air, but no-one was wounded, said Govender.

Just 20 minutes later, a 28-year-old man driving in Memani Street in Bathurst was stopped by two armed men. One of the suspects was armed with a firearm and the other with a knife.

"They demanded cash and his car keys, and forced him out the car,” said Govender.

But they could not start the car. A small crowd gathered at which the suspects fled on foot. Again, they fired shots into the air, but no-on was hurt.

At that time, two members of the crime intelligence unit in Port Alfred who were in the vicinity noticed and approached a Toyota Corolla on the road.

"As they stopped behind the stranded vehicle they were approached by two men who allegedly pointed firearms at them,” said Govender. "Both (policemen) were not armed and fled and were chased by the suspects.”

The constables escaped unharmed but the suspects stole their unmarked police car. It was found a short time later after the suspects smashed into an outside toilet.

Shortly thereafter, a 51-year-old man was on his way to meet a colleague in his Nissan bakkie and was confronted by two men, one armed with a firearm.

They told him to get out of his car, then drove away in it. The car was later found abandoned on the R67 towards Port Alfred.

That same evening, a 40-yeatr-old school teacher was on her way to Port Alfred in her blue Toyota Tazz when she noticed a white bakkie standing in the middle of the road near Hayes siding

She swerved to avoid a collision and after she stopped, was approached by two men with firearms. They banged on her windows and told her to open up, then ordered her to drive towards Port Alfred.

But a police roadblock was up ahead.

Govender said the suspects ordered the woman to drive through the roadblock.

She said the quick-thinking teacher drove her car into the rear end of one of the vehicles at the roadblock, and put her hands up, indicating she was handing herself over.

The suspects jumped out her car and fled. Police pursued and arrested one suspect in his late 20s.

Bathurst police are investigating two cases of armed robbery, four cases of hijacking and a case of reckless and negligent driving.