A message has been doing the rounds on social media warning the community against crying children which lure victims who then get robbed or hijacked.
The message has been doing the rounds for years. It reads:
“This message is for every man, boy, woman, or girl who goes to work, college or school alone. If you find a child crying on the road showing his/her address and asking you to take him/her to the address, immediately take that child to the police station and please do not take the child to the place he/she asks. This is a new way to gang rape women and girls, and rob and kill men and boys.
“Please also do not accept a free key holder at service stations; it has a tracker device in it by which you can be followed. This is already happening in Johannesburg and Durban. Please send to as many people as possible. Col MJ Kruger, Crime intelligence 012 360 1058/082 778 2846.”
The warning has been seen with slightly different wording, from different places, and from different people or departments. According to Hoax Slayer the message has been circulated on CNN, Fox, and States in the USA, Malaysia, as well as many other countries around the world.
The Randburg Sun phoned the so-called Colonel MJ Kruger, the first number is engaged and the other number remains unanswered.
Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Kay Makhubela confirmed that this message did not come from the South African Police Department. “Members of the community are always encouraged to check with their local police departments. Also, those who share information must first check that it is real.”
Details: Police crime line tip-off number 086 001 0111; SMS 322 11.
