Bad start to year for hijacking thief

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Not a good day for a Jozi man who stole a cop’s gun, failed at murder, tried to hijack a bakkie whose occupants were both armed, and was later shot.

The man, believed to be in his late twenties, attacked a Metro police sergeant who was drawing cash from an autoteller in Randburg on December 31.

Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said: "There was a fight. The man managed to grab the firearm from the officer’s holster and pull it out. He pointed the gun at the officer, squeezed the trigger but it didn't go off."

THREE-HOUR STAND-OFF

The robber than ran on to the N1 highway and tried to hijack a silver Nissan bakkie. The driver and passenger were armed and, along with the Metro officer pursuing the man on foot, gave chase.

"They chased him across the N1 freeway into an Imperial car rental dealership."

The man then ran through part of Linden, where he was cornered on a street.

"There was a stand-off between the robber and police for three hours while negotiations took place to get him to hand himself over. He refused."

A police task force was called to the scene, threw a stun grenade at the man, and he began shooting. Police shot and wounded him.

Minnaar said the man's condition was not serious and he would appear in court soon on charges of attempted murder, pointing a firearm, and theft.