Mpumalanga SAPS warns public against hitchhiking
According to the police, two hitchhikers fell victim to robbers and had their valuables stolen.
The Mpumalanga SAPS has issued a statement warning the public against hitchhiking as criminals are using it as a way to rob the public.
In a statement on Wednesday February 1, a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said, “The SAPS would like to caution the public against hitchhiking as it could place their lives at risk. Recently two males fell prey to suspects who robbed them of their belongings as they were hitch-hiking on Tuesday January 31.”
“A 41-year-old man was hitch-hiking on the Uitkyk road near Middelburg around 12:15. A white Toyota with three male occupants stopped and offered him a lift. A few moments after he got inside the vehicle, one suspect who was sitting on the backseat drew a knife and held him hostage. The victim was robbed of his belongings, including his cellphone, bank cards and an undisclosed amount of cash.
ALSO READ: DD Mabuza remains deputy president – for now
The suspects forced the victim to reveal his pin for his bank cards. Thereafter they somehow withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash from his account, dropped him off and fled. The victim opened a case of robbery at Middelburg Police Station. No one has been arrested yet. The police are still in pursuit of the suspects.”
Meanwhile, a similar incident occurred on the same day in Witbank at about 15:00.
“A 33-year old man was reportedly hitch-hiking in Clarinet along Verena Road. A VW Golf with three male occupants is said to have stopped and offered him a lift. Once he was inside the car, one of the suspects is said to have pulled out a firearm and held him at gunpoint.
ALSO READ: Mayor officially opens City of Mbombela’s part of Hoxane Water Treatment Works
He was searched and robbed of his cellphone as well as an undisclosed amount of cash. The victim was dropped off and the suspects fled. A robbery case was opened at the Witbank SAPS. No one has been arrested yet, but the police are searching for the suspects. It is against this backdrop as well as many other similar incidents that the SAPS warns citizens to be extra cautious.”
