Two trucks carrying millions of rands worth of stock were hijacked in separate incidents in Nelson Mandela Bay over the past two days.
In one incident, a truck was pulled over by robbers driving a VW Polo with flashing blue lights.
The second robbery happened at 5am yesterday when a meat refrigeration truck, carrying several tons of meat worth R500 000, was hijacked between Kinklebos and Nanaga on the N2.
“The truck was leaving Port Elizabeth with the meat when a silver Avanza pulled in behind them and started flashing their lights,” police spokesman Andre Beetge said.
“The truck pulled into the yellow lane and slowed down.
“As they were slowing down another bakkie sped past them and slammed on brakes in front of the truck.
“Two men jumped out and pointed handguns at the driver’s two passengers, who were ordered out of the vehicle.”
The passengers were pushed into the silver vehicle and the driver was forced to drive the truck.
“They turned back to Port Elizabeth and all three were dropped off somewhere in the Northern Areas.
“The truck and two vehicles continued to drive away.
“At 7.30am, police were alerted and the truck was found abandoned on Mission Road. All the meat had been stolen.”Seven people, including the truck driver, were arrested after some of the meat was recovered on a farm in Kragga Kamma.
On Wednesday, a truck transporting R3-million worth of catalytic converters was hijacked by three men in Hope Street, Sidwell, at about 2pm.
Police spokesman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the truck had been pulled off the road when the unmarked Polo, with flashing blue lights, pulled up behind it.
“The three occupants of the Polo were in plainclothes and pretending to be law enforcement officials,” she said.
“They told the driver to exit his truck, claiming his brake lights were not working.
“As he walked towards the back of the truck, the men asked for his driver’s licence and then grabbed him and forced him into the Polo.
“They forced him to lie down in the back seat and dropped him off near Colchester.”
Janse van Rensburg said the driver had managed to get a lift to Truckers Inn near Motherwell and had raised the alarm.
“The truck was then located abandoned in Uitenhage near Strelitzia Park at about 7pm.
“All the stock had been stolen,” she said.
The incidents are being investigated by the provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit.