Balaclava gang holds up guests at Timamoon Lodge, Hazyview

Four criminals wearing balaclavas robbed two guests at Timamoon Lodge at 02:00 on Sunday October 20. The robbers held the couple at gun point with four 9mm revolvers. Various items were stolen including an iPhone, iPad, jewellery and cash. The victims were tied up on the bed before being locked in their chalet. The gang then fled the scene in the direction of Bushbuckridge. The coupled eventually managed to free themselves and called for help on the emergency radio.

Hi-Tech Security responded to the incident. According to the security company the criminals made their escape through the plantation farms making it extremely difficult to track them under the prevailing rainy conditions.

When the security team initially arrived on the crime scene they immediately contacted the various police stations for back-up. According to a source, none of the phones at White River and Hazyview police stations were working. The same apparently applied for the Flying squad. Eventually the reaction team got hold of Lt. Col. MP Makamu, station commander Hazyview.

Captain Piet Smit states that his team was in fact on the crime scene. “It is not true that the flying squad phone numbers were not working on the night in question as was alleged by a source,” says Captain Smit. “What I do know is that there was a problem with the telephone lines at the White River SAPS call centre. The White River Canine unit was also present at the crime scene. Everyone on the Sabie road knowns my number since I have been head of the flying squad for the past two and a half years.”

The search for the robbers is on-going