Walking along the sidewalk gives a very real sense of danger and risk of falling victim to an armed robbery that happens on an almost daily basis. A reasonable person might do everything they can to keep their valuables out of sight and remain vigilant or walk in groups but yet even then the situation might be unavoidable.
In the Central Business District (CBD) near the Puma Stadium a woman was apparently stopped by two unknown men who dragged her to the side of the road and allegedly began to undress her. Fortunately according to reports another two men saw what happened and ran to help her scaring off her attackers but not before they took her cell phone. The victim could not be reached for comment. Although according to the report she had her phone out of view when she was attacked.
On September 28 at about 15:30 a man was making his way back from Middelburg to eMalahleni and while he was walking down the road from the town centre to the highway hoping to catch a lift he was approached by two unknown men. One of them had a gun and demanded his cell phone which was hidden away.
“I had my phone in my pocket,” said the victim.
He handed it over and they apparently immediately ran off with it. When he got back the eMalahleni resident opened a case with Witbank SAPS.
On September 29 at about 12:00 a man walking down Kudo Street in Tasbet Park was also approached by two men who were apparently carrying knives. They threatened him and demanded the victim empty his pockets. His cell phone was also out of view tucked away in his pocket. The men ran away with the Nokia. This incident happened at about 12:00.
The Witbank SAPS continues to warn people to take every measure possible to avoid being targeted by robbers such as never walk alone or at night. Keep your valuables out of view and always be aware of your surroundings, however sometimes a person is just in the wrong place and the wrong time as these resent cases demonstrate.
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