Suspect arrested in Athlone

By Khanyisa Tabata
09 March 2011

A 22 year old man has been arrested after he allegedly hijacked a delivery truck which he use as a get away vehicle from a house that he broke into and later caught red handed.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Ian Bennett says the perpetrator went to a house in Murton Road where he held an old lady at gunpoint while she was busy removing the refuse bin.

“He forced her into the house where two other ladies were. While the suspect was busy searching for valuable items in the house, one of the ladies raised the alarm, by running to the outside looking for help.

“The occupants of a delivery truck stopped to assist, but the suspect pointed the firearm at them and forced the driver to transport him away from the crime scene. As the truck slowed down in College Road the perpetrator jumped off and ran away, said Bennett.

Bennett added that police also recovered a plastic toy gun in his possession.

“The 22 year old suspect will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on charges of housebreaking, theft, hijacking and pointing of a fire arm once he have been charged,” said Bennett.

The SAPS would like to acknowledge the role the community play and thus continues to encourage the community to report crime or any incidents of crime to 10111 or 08600 10111, speedily.