LOCAL resident, Janice Benecke has urged motorists to be vigilant on Vusi Mzimela Road (Cato Manor) after she was robbed in a smash-and-grab. The incident which occurred a little over a week ago in broad daylight has left Benecke shaken.
Benecke, the KZN administrator for PinkDrive was in the company’s branded vehicle with fellow work colleague, Michelle Pillay when the incident occurred.
“We were stationary at the traffic lights and I had vehicle in front of me and another vehicle to the side of me. I received a call on my cell phone and I picked up, I was talking for a few seconds and then out of nowhere heard this almighty smash. I was stunned because I was covered in glass and one of the suspects had grabbed my phone.
“Another suspect smashed the back window and stole some of the items that were PinkDrive related. No sooner had the first suspect snatched my phone he then reached across and grabbed my handbag. I was clinging onto my bag and remembered saying ‘you are not getting my bag’ and that’s when he reached into the bag and grabbed my purse. He then motioned to his friend with his head and they briskly walked off. My purse had about R300, my credit cards and my drivers licence. A few minutes after the smash-and-grab I received notifications they had tried seven times to use my credit card,” she explained.
Benecke said she was urging other motorists to learn from the incident and to avoid leaving items in plain sight or answering their cell phones while stationary.
” I just want to urge residents again to be extremely vigilant of their surroundings. I’ll never answer my phone again in the car at a traffic light, especially in a dangerous area. I want to thank everyone who has sent messages of support and to warrant officer De Beer from the Umbilo Police Station for being so helpful,” she said.
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