Truckers are being warned to watch out for criminals dressed in full Tshwane metro police department (TMPD) uniforms driving a vehicle with blue lights targeting trucks on Gauteng highways.
TMPD says it is aware that criminals dressed as traffic police driving a marked vehicle fitted with blue lights and sirens are robbing truckers.
The impersonators reportedly recently robbed two men on the N4 Platinum Highway and R80 Soshanguve off-ramp.
TMPD spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba says the department believed this unit was bogus, adding that an investigation would be initiated into the matter.
Mahamba explains the department was made aware of the suspected hoax unit after reports surfaced that trucks on the N4 highway were being hijacked by criminals thought to be genuine police officers.
He says the fake law enforcers are reportedly driving a kombi marked as a TMPD vehicle.
N4 truck hijacking
“It is alleged that on October 9, two male suspects in TMPD uniform driving a marked vehicle with blue lights and siren hijacked a truck on the N4 Platinum Highway and R80 Soshanguve off-ramp.”
Mahamba says the men in the suspected kombi instructed the driver of the truck to pull over to the side of the road.
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“The complainant stopped the truck. The suspects got out of the vehicle wearing a full TMPD uniform and instructed the driver to get out to see the faulty brake light.
“The suspects pointed a firearm at the driver and instructed him to walk to the kombi. The suspects then drove off with both vehicles and left the driver on the side of the road unharmed.”
The TMPD emphasised that those men could not be TMPD officers. “This matter is being investigated
Stay alert
Mahamba warned the public to be extra vigilant when being stopped by police officers.
“If there is any suspicion when stopped, officers can be requested to produce their appointment certificates.”
This is not the first report of fake TMPD police roaming Tshwane.
Last October, other criminals used a similar modus operandi. The TMPD received numerous complaints about criminals posing as police officers and wearing metro police uniforms. The only difference was their vehicle was unmarked, however, it was also fitted with blue lights.
Those criminals would stop, rob and hijack motorists, mostly in Centurion and at the R511 from Diepsloot leading to Hartbeespoort.
Motorists are encouraged to report these crimes to their nearest police station or the TMPD on 012 358 7095/7096.
All information received will be treated with confidentiality.
