According to organised crime expert and CEO of IRS Forensic Investigations, Chad Thomas, repeated incidents of rocks being thrown from bridges at motorists in the greater Bedfordview area should be treated as serious criminal activity and not as vandalism or a prank.

Thomas recently spoke with Bedfordview and Edenvale News about the recent spate of rock-throwing incidents from bridges in the greater Bedfordview area, following several incidents in the community.

ALSO READ: Woman reportedly killed in R24 rock-throwing incident near Bedfordview

Thomas said the use of bridges as vantage points, combined with the placement of rocks or other obstacles on roads, could indicate planning aimed at causing enough damage to force a vehicle to stop.

The discussion with Thomas came after a woman was killed on the R24 near the Van Der Linde Road Bridge when a rock was thrown from the bridge and smashed through her windscreen. Bedfordview SAPS confirmed the incident last Friday.

“Throwing of rocks off bridges and the placing of rocks and other obstacles on roads suggests a level of planning to cause the most possible damage,” Thomas said.

He said the apparent intention in such cases would normally be to bring a vehicle to a standstill, potentially allowing the occupants to be robbed.

Thomas added that attacks from bridges could involve more than one offender, with other assailants positioned close to the roadway to enable a robbery once a vehicle has stopped.

ALSO READ: Woman killed in R24 rock-throwing attack as safety fears grow in Bedfordview

According to Thomas, investigators looking for links between incidents would examine factors including the location, time of attacks and similarities in the modus operandi.

The times at which attacks occur could be particularly significant in determining whether incidents are connected.

However, he cautioned that not every incident would necessarily be linked to theft.

“There are lone wolf cases where someone, likely suffering from mental health issues, just wants to cause pain and mayhem, and it is not necessarily theft related,” he said.

Thomas said the repeated use of particular bridges could indicate that offenders had identified them as advantageous locations.

ALSO READ: Murder investigation launched after woman dies in Bedfordview rock attack

Familiarity with the surrounding area could also assist offenders in escaping, particularly where escape routes lead through thick brush and do not immediately connect to another road.

He said similar patterns involving obstacles being placed in roads had emerged elsewhere in South Africa over the years, citing the Grasmere Toll Plaza area as an example.

Rock attacks from bridges and rocks placed on highways have also been reported on the N4 between Pretoria and Bronkhorstspruit and on the R80 Mabopane Freeway, according to Thomas.

The attacks are generally likely to involve random vehicle selection, he said, because the speed of traffic and timing involved would make deliberately targeting a specific vehicle exceptionally difficult.

However, Thomas said offenders could potentially observe traffic from a bridge, particularly if spotters further down the road were able to communicate with those throwing the rocks.

Previous incidents in other areas had generally occurred when roads were quieter, such as late at night or during the early hours of the morning, he said.

Thomas warned that the consequences of such attacks could be fatal.

ALSO READ: Sanral tightens N12 security after rock-throwing reports

He said offenders could reasonably foresee that throwing an object at a moving vehicle could result in death, a principle known as dolus eventualis.

There have been previous deaths associated with this type of crime, Thomas said, adding that this did not necessarily represent an escalation in behaviour, but rather that offenders were aware that death could result from their actions.

“If the perpetrator has committed murder in the execution of a crime,” he said, “the principle of dolus eventualis applies.”

Thomas also warned that fatal incidents could potentially result in copycat attacks.

He highlighted that there were definitely copycats throughout the country.

He stressed that bridge rock-throwing should not be dismissed as vandalism or a prank.

“This is not a prank or vandalism. This has serious consequences like we have seen,” Thomas said.

He said CCTV, traffic cameras, private security cameras and dashcam footage could be useful to investigators attempting to establish the movements and behaviour of suspects.

Cellphone data and other digital evidence could also potentially assist in establishing whether suspects were present at multiple incident locations.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Rock-throwing warning issued after vehicle’s windscreen shattered on N12 near Gillooly’s

Investigators should examine escape routes and surrounding surveillance when assessing a bridge attack, while the type of rock or other object used could potentially provide information linking incidents.

Thomas said physical evidence would depend on the individual crime scene. He recommended increased high-visibility patrols at bridges identified as repeat problem areas, together with measures such as improved lighting, fencing and CCTV.

He also urged motorists and members of the public to exercise caution and report suspicious activity around bridges rather than putting themselves at risk.

Suspicious activity can be reported through SANRAL, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) or local social media platforms, he said.

For law enforcement, Thomas said repeated attacks should be treated as extremely serious.

He recommended that undercover task teams focus on specific areas, while investigators should look for patterns and consider covert surveillance.

“The most important thing is that it is an intention to rob which could have devastating effects,” Thomas said.

He advised motorists to avoid travelling at certain times and on roads identified as vulnerable to this type of attack where possible.

Thomas said that if offenders understood that throwing a heavy object onto a moving vehicle could cause a driver to lose control or suffer fatal injuries, their decision to continue doing so demonstrated a callous attitude.