Possible Winterveldt syndicate: Man rescued from trunk after failed Facebook car deal

The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) is warning the public not to buy cars via social media due to an increase in scams and hijackings in the Winterveldt area, north of Pretoria.

This after a team from the TMPD recovered a hijacked Volkswagen vehicle near Klipgat on Sunday, September 22.

Team members rescued the driver from the trunk of his car, who had been trying to purchase a vehicle advertised on Facebook Marketplace prior to the incident.

Possibility of Winterveldt hijacking syndicate

Isaac Mahamba, Chief Inspector of TMPD, said The citizen that the metro police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are jointly investigating the possibility that a hijacking syndicate is active in the Winterveldt area.

According to Mahamba, the victim said he and a friend received instructions from the people who were “selling” the vehicle, but they discovered it was a trap to lure them to the area.

While asking for directions, they saw three men approaching with firearms. The passenger managed to escape, but the driver was thrown into the trunk.

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Suspects undress hijacked car with victim in trunk

The suspects then drove to Winterveldt, where they took the car apart for parts while the man was still in the trunk.

Mahamba said it appears the suspects were watching people for police vehicles as they managed to escape when TMPD team members arrived at the scene.

A case of hijacking and kidnapping has been opened against the Saps.

READ ALSO: Vanished in 60 minutes: Hijackers plunder Toyota Hilux…with owner ‘trapped’

Winterveldt, a place full of crime: hijackings, car thefts and online robberies

There are many crime situations in the Winterveldt district, such as road demolition, robberies during online shopping, drugs, hijacking and theft of motor vehicles.

Last month, members of the police stabilisation team (STT) were deployed to the Tshwane district, where 11 suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in online robberies and vehicle hijackings in the northern parts of the metropolis.

Winterveldt gangs

In May, more than 20 people were arrested after police busted two gangs in Winterveldt.

Police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said at the time that one of the gangs was believed to have links to a criminal network responsible for a surge in robberies targeting unsuspecting customers making purchases on Facebook Marketplace.

The other gang is said to be responsible for the recent road spike incidents. The gang targets motorists on the R80, N1 and N4 highways.

READ ALSO: Motorists take note: Tshwane’s tyre stud hotspots and how to stay safe

Police van hijacked, officer robbed

Meanwhile, an operational commander of Temba police station was hijacked while transporting two victims. They opened cases at the police station.

After dropping off the second victim, he was attacked and hijacked by three armed suspects, who then hijacked the police van he was driving.

He was forced to drive them to Winterveldt, where they robbed him of his belongings, including a mobile phone and money.

The marked police vehicle was later found abandoned along the road in Winterveldt.