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By Botho Molosankwe 
6h ago
Johannesburg – Some motorists have been kidnapped, while others had their belongings stolen after being lured towards criminals by women who saw stops on the side of the road and tried to help.
The women allegedly work with criminals who then attack motorists when they stop to help.
Northwest Police Colonel spokeswoman Adéle Myburgh said the information at her disposal was that the suspects had used the women to lure potential victims by posing as hitchhikers, prostitutes or damsels in distress.
“Upon stopping, the suspicious men would suddenly emerge from the bushes, then overpower the victims and hijack their vehicles. In most cases, motorists also had their valuables stolen, ”he said.
One of the incidents occurred on Friday, October 2, in which a 44-year-old man was assaulted at gunpoint.
“He allegedly stopped his vehicle to help a lady along the road in front of a farm on Dr Wild Fig Street, Hartbeespoortdam.
“The suspects came out of the bushes, pointed guns at him and stole his personal belongings,” he said.
In another unrelated case on Friday, January 3, a 44-year-old man was traveling in his Toyota Corolla Quest on the R512 near Hartbeespoortdam when another Toyota Conquest suddenly pulled up right in front of his vehicle.
“It was at that moment that six suspects, of whom three were armed with firearms, overpowered him and pointed them with firearms. The victim was tied up and stripped of his personal effects and the vehicle. The suspects left and left him in the bushes. The victim managed to walk to the road where he was helped by a passerby ”.
Myburg said seven people were arrested over the weekend by Hartbeespoortdam detectives, Visible Policing and the Brits Trio Task Team for both crimes.
It said the seven were related to several cases of kidnapping, murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and robbery committed in Hartbeespoortdam, Muldersdrift and Attridgeville.
“Following an intensive investigation, four suspects, Abrahim Thobejane (37), Gaven Khumalo (39), Edgar Maluleka (40) and Koos Maite (37) were arrested and appeared before the British Magistrates Court on Monday 23 November 2020, for kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
“They will remain in custody until their next court appearance on Tuesday, December 1.
“Three more suspects are expected to appear in the magistrates’ courts of Atteridgeville and Krugersdorp, respectively, on charges of kidnapping, murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition,” he said.
Myburg added that one of the women who was working with the men to rob the motorist was also arrested with one of the suspects in Atteridgeville.
North West Provincial Commissioner Lt. Gen. Seal Kwena praised Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 1 Police (British) for “working tirelessly to ensure that suspects are arrested and illegal firearms removed from the wrong hands.”
Kwena said police will continue to work hard to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to the account.
MESS
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