Members of the Harare Community Policing Forum (CPF) urged the motorists to be vigilant on the road and avoid driving at night alone.
The remarks came after officers attached to the Harare police Hijacking Team infiltrated a chop shop at 54 Block, Kuyasa on Tuesday 26 April.
During the police operation, four suspects were arrested on charges of possession of hijacked and stolen motor vehicles as well as possession of stolen property.
The suspects were caught red-handed, cutting up two VW Polo Vivo hatchbacks.
Harare CPF chair Funeka Soldaat said hijacking is becoming a norm in Khayelitsha. She urged the Police minister Bheki Cele to deploy more officers to the townships to fight crime.
“We are appealing to the community to report everything that is suspicious in their communities to the police. Police alone cannot fight crime. As a community we need to work closely with the police,” said Soldaat.
She requested motorists to be vigilant when they are on the road.
“It’s difficult to state where the hotspot is for car hijacking because once the perpetrators perceived that the police noticed them they moved to another spot. But all and all motorists must stop driving at night. Or if someone is driving at night must have another person to accompany him or her, particularly women,” she stated.
Harare police spokesperson Capt Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed the incident and cited that during the search of the premises multiple number plates were also found as well as numerous motor vehicles body parts.
“On further investigation it was found that the vehicles they were cutting were hijacked at Sea Point and Rondebosch and two separate sets of number plates were positively stolen or hijacked in Strand and Durbanville respectively. The suspect’s vehicle, a white Ford Courier that may have been used to commit the offences, was also confiscated,” said Vukubi.
The suspects are aged between 24 and 35.