Blantyre, Malawi, March 16 (MaraviPost) _ Two suspected car-jackers were Monday killed in a police shoot-out in the Malawi central border district of Dedza, police have confirmed.
“We were tipped off by citizens that some robbers have stolen a vehicle at gun point early this (Monday) morning,” said Dedza District Police spokesman Edward Kabango.
He said an anti-motor theft squad was scrambled into action and gave chase along the main M1 Road that lies on the border with Mozambique.
“When they realised they were being chased the car-jackers opened fire and the police officers fired back, killing two on the spot and arrested a third suspect,” he said.
None of the officers were hit, according to Kabango.
Of late there has been an increase in cross-border car-jacking between Malawi and Mozambique. Car thieves steal vehicles in Malawi and drive them across the porous border. The vehicles end up in scrap yards in Mozambique after engines and other important parts have been stripped off. The vehicles of choice are 4-wheel drives, especially Toyota Prado and Pajeros.
Recently, a government minister’s Toyota Prado was stolen at a gun point. It was recovered in Mozambique a week later.-maravipost
