01/05/2026
Insurance and Brokers Must Inform their Clients of the Following Trend:
5th Wheel Security Alert: Transporters and Truck Drivers
Statement from Insurance /Private Investigator.
Transporters and truck drivers are urged to be aware of a recent increase in truck hijackings following a consistent modus operandi in the following areas: Pretoria West, Akasia, Pretoria North, Brits, and Soshanguve.
Modus Operandi
* Suspects pose as potential customers and request quotations for rigid trucks (closed body or curtain-side), rollback trucks, or crane trucks.
* They provide fraudulent company details by adopting the identity of legitimate third parties.
* No payment reflects in the transporter’s account, despite proof of payment being supplied.
* In some cases, cash-on-collection deals are negotiated for items such as steel, paint, or forklifts.
When the driver arrives at the location provided via Google Maps:
* The driver meets an individual posing as a “manager,” who gets into the truck under the pretense of directing them to a loading point.
* The driver is then threatened with a firearm and overpowered by a second suspect, typically dressed in black with a security-style cap.
* Drivers are detained at or near the location, often in open fields.
The suspects then:
* Drive the truck approximately 40 km to remote or rural areas near Soshanguve.
* Strip the dashboard and interior of the cab to remove satellite tracking systems.
Recent Developments
In the past few weeks, including as recent as yesterday, several trucks have been recovered with the assistance of satellite tracking ground teams. These vehicles were found stripped in bush areas, clearly hindered to finish their task and to make of with the Truck.
High-Risk Locations Identified
* 68 and 168 Hornsnek Road, Strydfontein (near Akasia/Brits, Pretoria)
* Crocodile Street, Brits (near the Total garage)
These locations are typically smallholdings where suspects meet drivers at the entrance without the property owner’s knowledge.
Fraudulent Company Name Used
* “Roytech Trading”
Recommendations
* Conduct thorough vetting of all new customers, especially cash transactions.
* Do not rely solely on proof of payment without bank confirmation.
* Maintain real-time monitoring of vehicle tracking systems.
* Install secondary or backup tracking devices where possible.
* Monitor driver movements closely during collections in unfamiliar areas.
* Be alert to suspicious behaviour and verify all collection details independently.
Remain vigilant ... Stay safe ...
