A DIEP River second-hand car salesman has been left traumatised after he was hijacked and tasered by two men pretending to be potential buyers.

No arrests have been made and police are now looking for the criminals.

“A case of car-jacking has been opened at the Diep River Police Station. No one has been arrested yet, but we are still investigating”, says Diep River SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Clive Muller.

The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, says he hopes never to be in a situation like this again.

The morning started off like any other. The cars were washed, shined and ready to be looked at by customers.

The man said he was sitting in his office when two men, one in his twenties and another in his fifties, stopped in to look at a white VW Golf at around 9:45 on Saturday 11 February.

The two claimed to be father and son and asked if they could have a closer look.

The two men then said they were going to another dealership down the road. The returned 15 minutes later, and asked to go for a test drive.

“Usually I ask the client for an identification document and only then allow them to take the test drive. But there was something suspicious about the “son”.

I was worried that if I gave him the car he would mess it up or speed. I was alone at the office at the time, so I locked everything up and joined them for a test drive.”

The “father” then got in the drivers seat, with the salesman in the passenger seat and the “son” in the back.

They made their way down the Main Road and on to Kendal Road.

He became more suspicious when the “son” swore at the “father” while they were driving.

“The younger guy asked why he was driving so badly, and he was swearing. I knew something wasn't right but then the man in the back seat pulled out a taser and shocked me.

“The volts going through my body was the worst feeling in the world. It felt like my whole body was on fire. When he did that I knew it was a hijacking and knew I had to get out of the situation. I couldn’t move my neck or any other part of my body except my hand.

“The only thought going through my head was that I had to get the car to stop otherwise I could end up dead.”

He had been involved in car racing before he became a salesman, so he pulled up the handbrake and the car skidded on to the pavement near the Kendal Road circle.

He said he tried to get the men out of the car but it was in vain as the younger male kept threatening him with the taser. They eventually drove off and the car has not been recovered.

The victim said he had never heard of something like this happening with any other saleman. “This has never happened to me or to anyone I know. There are many car saleshops in this road and we have made a conscious decision to be more cautious when going out on test-drives.

“I was terrified when it happened to me and I am still in a bit of shock but I have learnt my lesson when it comes to test-drives.”

A car salesman (who also does not want to be named),who works nearby, says he would’ve had the same fate if it wasn’t for his gut instinct.

“I was standing in our car lot when the two men came and looked at a Mini Cooper.

“I told them it had already been sold. When I saw them I immediately knew they couldn’t be trusted; my sixth sense just kicked in.”

Officer Muller if the Diep River police department says: “This is the first incident we have had in Diep River area where a car sales shop has been targeted. There is not a lot police can do to prevent this type of crime but salemen can use a strategy to try and curb it. They can maybe just allow one person to take the test-drive. That is the best way, because then you have some type of control and can react properly when the person is trying to do a hijacking.”

Police are urging community members to come forward with information. The car’s registration number is CA 797 239. If you have seen the car or have any information, contact Detective Sergeant Arnold Bosch on (021) 710 7346.