An armed gang wanting to flee a crime scene in a stolen Mercedes-Benz B-Class were unable to start the vehicle – and had to get the owner to drive it for them.
The incident took place in Mdantsane’s NU12 on Friday.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the owner, Lungisile Joxo, who works at the Mercedes-Benz plant in West Bank, survived the incident after being abducted by the gang.
Mzuku said a case of house robbery and kidnapping was being investigated.
Joxo was sleeping in his NU12 home with his partner when four men broke into his house in the early hours of Friday morning.
The couple’s hands and feet were tied with cables before the gang ransacked the house.
A visibly traumatised Joxo yesterday said: “I was shocked when the men kicked open the door leading to my bedroom and started shining torches in our faces.”
Joxo said he was made to lie face down on the bed and tied up.
The men ransacked the house and took the couple’s music system, flatscreen TV, cellphones, wallets and keys for the Mercedes.
After loading the loot in the boot of the vehicle, one of the suspects got into the driver’s seat and attempted to start the car while his three accomplices sat at the back.
But after five minutes of fiddling with the ignition, the would-be getaway driver got out of the car and went back into Joxo’s house.
“I was busy trying to untie myself when the man entered and pointed a firearm at me again,” said Joxo. “He ordered me to come show him how the car works as he could not start it.”
Joxo was forced into the driver’s seat and ordered to drive.
The men drove to Bridle Drift Dam in NU5 where he was again tied up and pushed over a cliff.
“I thought I was going to be taken out right there and then. I rolled numerous times before I came to a standstill,” he said.
Joxo said he spent an hour trying to untie himself near the dam and was eventually helped by a woman on her way to work.
Police later found the Mercedes abandoned outside the premises of the Phakamile Primary School.
“The car was fine. It had a few scratches and its registration was ripped off,” said Joxo.
Police said the suspects were still at large and advised anyone with information regarding the case to contact Vulindlela investigating officer Captain Samuel Xhamani on 043-762-0200 or Crime Stop: 08600-10111. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Stolen high-tech car stumps gang
The incident took place in Mdantsane’s NU12 on Friday.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the owner, Lungisile Joxo, who works at the Mercedes-Benz plant in West Bank, survived the incident after being abducted by the gang.
Mzuku said a case of house robbery and kidnapping was being investigated.
Joxo was sleeping in his NU12 home with his partner when four men broke into his house in the early hours of Friday morning.
The couple’s hands and feet were tied with cables before the gang ransacked the house.
A visibly traumatised Joxo yesterday said: “I was shocked when the men kicked open the door leading to my bedroom and started shining torches in our faces.”
Joxo said he was made to lie face down on the bed and tied up.
The men ransacked the house and took the couple’s music system, flatscreen TV, cellphones, wallets and keys for the Mercedes.
After loading the loot in the boot of the vehicle, one of the suspects got into the driver’s seat and attempted to start the car while his three accomplices sat at the back.
But after five minutes of fiddling with the ignition, the would-be getaway driver got out of the car and went back into Joxo’s house.
“I was busy trying to untie myself when the man entered and pointed a firearm at me again,” said Joxo. “He ordered me to come show him how the car works as he could not start it.”
Joxo was forced into the driver’s seat and ordered to drive.
The men drove to Bridle Drift Dam in NU5 where he was again tied up and pushed over a cliff.
“I thought I was going to be taken out right there and then. I rolled numerous times before I came to a standstill,” he said.
Joxo said he spent an hour trying to untie himself near the dam and was eventually helped by a woman on her way to work.
Police later found the Mercedes abandoned outside the premises of the Phakamile Primary School.
“The car was fine. It had a few scratches and its registration was ripped off,” said Joxo.
Police said the suspects were still at large and advised anyone with information regarding the case to contact Vulindlela investigating officer Captain Samuel Xhamani on 043-762-0200 or Crime Stop: 08600-10111. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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