Bakkie chase ends in arrest after alleged kidnapping and business robbery in North West

A 48-year-old man appeared before the Temba Magistrates’ Court on Friday in connection with a business robbery, kidnapping and possession of suspected stolen property.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday following a business robbery at a premises in Makapanstad at about 10.30am, North West police said.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a 33-year-old complainant and two employees were offloading wardrobes at a storeroom when two masked men allegedly entered the premises.

One of the men was reportedly armed with a firearm.

The suspects allegedly demanded the victims’ cellphones and instructed them to remove their shoelaces, which were allegedly used to tie their hands.

Police said the suspects then searched the storeroom and allegedly loaded three deep freezers, a double-door refrigerator and two single-door refrigerators onto a company bakkie.

Quick-thinking victim

One of the victims, the company driver, was allegedly instructed to drive the vehicle to nearby bushes, where he was told to offload the stolen goods.

He was then allegedly instructed to drive towards the Industrial Site, while one of the suspects remained behind.

The driver returned to the business premises and alerted police, telling them that the suspects and stolen property could possibly still be found in the bushes.

Police said officers went to the area with the victim and subsequently spotted a white bakkie allegedly transporting the stolen property.

They pursued the vehicle and stopped it.

One suspect allegedly fled on foot, while the driver was arrested.