A suspected cargo thief was left hanging upside down from a moving truck after an apparent attempt to steal produce and escape went wrong on the R72 near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday afternoon, 9 October 2026, on the R72 shortly after Port Alfred in the direction of East London.
Video footage recorded by a truck driver travelling behind the vehicle captured two men on top of a trailer carrying what appeared to be butternuts. The men were allegedly stealing produce from the moving truck while it continued along the road.
Suspects caught on video removing produce
The footage shows the two men positioned on top of the trailer, where they appear to remove produce from the load and place it into backpacks and sacks.
One of the suspects is seen moving carefully from the top of the stacked crates onto the trailer before preparing to jump off the vehicle.
His accomplice appears to have struggled while attempting to make his escape.
Carrying a backpack and a sack containing the allegedly stolen produce, the second suspect attempts to jump down from the top of the stacked crates. However, he appears to lose his footing during the manoeuvre.
Instead of landing safely, the man is left hanging upside down, with one of his feet apparently trapped between two pallets on the trailer.
The footage captures the dangerous position in which he becomes stuck while the truck continues moving.
Outcome of the incident remains unknown
The video ends while the suspect is still trapped upside down. It has not been established whether he managed to free himself, whether he sustained injuries or what happened to him after the recording ended.
There has also been no independently verified information establishing whether the suspects were arrested or whether a formal criminal investigation followed the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged theft have not been independently confirmed.
Attempted theft from moving trucks poses serious risks
The incident highlights the dangers associated with stealing cargo from moving heavy vehicles.
Climbing onto a loaded trailer exposes anyone attempting to remove goods to the risk of falling, becoming trapped between cargo or pallets, or suffering serious injuries while the vehicle is in motion.
Such incidents can also create additional risks for truck drivers and other road users, particularly if people attempt to climb onto or jump from vehicles travelling along public roads.
The footage provides a visual account of the failed escape on the R72, but the final outcome for the trapped suspect remains unclear.
Thug Get Free Haircut After Falling Off Truck and Getting Head Dragged Many Metres During Failed Looting Spree https://t.co/CkEzt0C0v2
— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) October 10, 2026
Businessman Opens Fire On Armed Suspects During Linksfield Ambush, One Suspect Killed
An armed robbery attempt in Linksfield, Johannesburg, reportedly ended with one suspect dead after a businessman returned fire when a group of armed men allegedly opened fire on him.
The incident occurred as the businessman was returning to his property in Linksfield, near Edenvale, on Thursday, 8 October, according to a report published on Friday night, 9 October 2026.
The suspects allegedly ambushed the man as he arrived at the premises and attempted to gain access to the property. During the confrontation, the group reportedly opened fire, injuring the businessman.
Despite being wounded, the man allegedly returned fire at the attackers, fatally shooting one of the suspects.
The suspect was reportedly declared dead at the scene.
The exchange of gunfire brought the attempted robbery to a violent end, with the remaining suspects reportedly abandoning their plan and fleeing the area.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the number of suspects involved, how they approached the property and whether they had specifically targeted the businessman, have not been independently established.
It is also unclear from the available report how seriously the businessman was injured, whether he was transported to hospital or whether any additional suspects were wounded during the shooting.
Police are expected to investigate the circumstances of the incident, including the fatal shooting and the attempted robbery. Details regarding arrests, the recovery of firearms and any charges had not been confirmed in the information available at the time of writing.
The incident highlights the risks faced by residents and business owners when arriving at their properties, particularly when armed suspects allegedly target them during their arrival.
The information about the Linksfield incident remains limited, and an official police statement confirming the details could not be independently verified.
OTHER NEWS
Three Suspected Cash-In-Transit Robbers Killed In N12 Shootout As Three Civilians Are Injured
Three suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers have been shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with police on the N12 near the Kliprivier off-ramp in southern Johannesburg on Friday, 9 October 2026.
The incident also left three civilians injured after the vehicle carrying the suspects reportedly lost control during the shootout and collided with two civilian vehicles.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the incident followed a crime intelligence operation targeting a group of suspects allegedly preparing to commit a robbery in Roodepoort.
Police had received information about the suspected group and were tracking two vehicles believed to be connected to the planned robbery.
During the operation, officers spotted a white Mercedes-Benz on Kliprivier Road and attempted to stop it as it approached traffic lights.
The occupants allegedly opened fire on the police, prompting officers to return fire.
During the exchange, the Mercedes-Benz reportedly lost control and crashed into two civilian vehicles on the N12.
Three suspects travelling in the vehicle were fatally wounded and were certified dead at the scene.
Three Civilians Injured In Collision
Three civilians were injured when the suspects’ vehicle collided with their vehicles during the incident.
The injured victims were transported to hospital for medical treatment. Their identities and the extent of their injuries had not been disclosed in the available reports.
The collision added to the disruption caused by the police operation on the busy highway, where the scene was attended to by law enforcement officials.
AK-47 Rifles Recovered
Police recovered two AK-47 rifles from the vehicle occupied by the three deceased suspects.
Several rounds of ammunition and magazines were also found inside the vehicle.
The recovery of the firearms forms part of the investigation into the incident and the suspected criminal activity that led police to the group.
Two More Suspects Arrested
Investigators also traced a second vehicle believed to be connected to the suspected robbery operation.
The white vehicle was located in the Johannesburg central business district, where two suspects were arrested.
The arrests followed the operation involving the two vehicles that police were tracking in connection with intelligence about a planned robbery in Roodepoort.
Further details about the identities of the arrested suspects, their alleged roles and any charges they may face had not been provided in the reports available at the time of publication.
Police Commissioner Expected At Scene
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni was expected to address the media at the scene as police continued their investigation.
The operation involved an intelligence-led effort to intercept suspects allegedly preparing to commit a robbery. The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire, the collision and the recovered firearms form part of the ongoing investigation.
The three deceased men remain described as suspected cash-in-transit robbers, and the allegations against the group should be distinguished from any findings that may emerge through the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
Further official information is expected as police provide additional details about the operation, the two arrests and the evidence recovered.
