A Gautrain commuter was left seriously injured and traumatised after two men attacked and robbed her outside Rhodesfield Gautrain Station on Thursday evening.
According to Sgt Dipuo Ditshego, deputy spokesperson for Kempton Park SAPS, the 33-year-old woman was on her way to her parked car at around 6pm when two suspects approached her.
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“One man was armed. They grabbed her and starting kicking her all over her body,” Ditshego told Express.
When the victim screamed for help, the armed suspect fired two shots into the air. The men managed to make off with the victim’s laptop and cellphone.
We are aware of incidents outside of the Rhodesfield station & are working with authorities to have the perpetrators apprehended.
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) May 24, 2019
Unfortunately criminals may target commuters outside station precincts. We urge commuters to be vigilant & report suspicious activity to SAPS.
Riëtte du Plessis, an immediate life support paramedic for Sec Pros Security, treated the injured woman on the scene.
“[The suspects] hurt her badly. Half of her face was swollen, she had lacerations to her head and I believe one of her fingers may have been dislocated,” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis added that the victim started crying when her mother arrived on the scene. “I believe she was crying because she was relieved to see her mom. She was in a lot of pain.”
Armed robberies are currently rife outside Rhodesfield Gautrain Station. On April 29, another female commuter was also attacked by armed robbers while walking to her parked car outside the station. On May 17 a suspected armed robber was arrested at the station.
Please be aware of your surroundings when outside stations.
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) May 24, 2019
Being dropped-off or waiting to be collected on the roadside is not always safe. Please make use our safe drop-off and collection areas within the stations. If you're parking, please do so inside of the station. pic.twitter.com/SGohz7ciid
