“I was on my way home when they approached me. One pulled out a knife and pushed it against my ribs. I knew I was trapped. I couldn’t get away,” said a victim of crime.
After a considerable number of robberies were reported at Witbank Police Station during the past week, police are searching for suspects armed with knives and targeting especially the Central Business District area.
On Monday, November 10 Mr Bernad Mbungela reported that he was robbed in Mandela Street, “I was walking to my girlfriend when three men approached me.”
Mbungela said one of the suspects pulled out a knife and threatened him, after he refused to give the man his cell phone.
The suspects wasted no time after grabbing the phone to flee the scene. Mbungela was left shaken but unharmed.
Similar robberies were reported the following days. On Tuesday, November 11 a 27-year-old victim reported being robbed by two suspects who approached him in Main Street and grabbed his backpack, which held cash and a textbook.
Another student, taking evening classes, reported to the police station on Thursday, November 13 after he was allegedly robbed of his cell phone and laptop.
The 26-year-old allegedly told police that he was stopped on his way home near King George Park by two suspects, who threatened him with an unknown sharp object.
Another man fell victim to robbers armed with knives on Friday, November 14. The man reported waiting at a bus stop in Extension 3, when three suspects approached him. One of the suspects held the man at knife-point as they demanded money. The man honestly told the strangers surrounding him that he had no money with him, yet they searched him to find only a Nokia cell phone in his possession.
Earlier the same day, a woman was also robbed of her cell phone in Watermeyer Street as she was waiting for transport. The woman said that she was also threatened with a knife before the two suspects quickly fled the scene.
Altogether nine robberies were reported at Witbank Police Station. All the victims reported three or two suspects and at least one of them was armed with a knife.
Police warn pedestrians not to walk alone, especially at night, with valuable items such as laptops and cell phones in hand. Police patrols are focused on the areas where most crimes are reported and it is therefore essential that all crimes are reported as soon as possible.
False crime reports are however punishable by law and anyone caught giving false information will be detained.
