BLOEMFONTEIN - Truck drivers and motorists are urged to be vigilant and practice safety following an increase in hijackings in the province.

This warning follows after Police received reports about motorists who were hijacked by hitchhikers in the province especially on the R82 road between Sasolburg and Koppies, R30 between Welkom and Orkney as well as R59 between Parys and Sasolburg and the N1 stretch between Bloemfontein and Heuningspruit. Free State police are once more advising motorists to refrain from offering lifts to unknown people. Recently police opened cases of hijacking after armed hitchhikers attacked a motorist and left him on the road.

Police are also sending a warning to motorists and truck drivers, using the Free State roads, against a group of armed males whose modus operandi is to use private vehicles fitted with blue lights and to stop motorists and truck drivers posing as Traffic officials or SAPS members.

The suspects who are heavily armed would stop the driver of the targeted truck and two or three suspects would get out of the vehicle and force the driver out from the truck at gunpoint.

Motorists are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious vehicles by calling the Police Emergency number 10111 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 while driving to the nearest safer spot. All SAPS Highway patrol vehicles are marked and members will follow you if you indicate that you don’t feel safe to stop at that spot as directed.

Source: South African Police Service