MALALANE – A trip to take photos of crocodiles from the bridge at the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate yesterday morning ended in tears, when local student Donné van der Westhuizen’s valuables were stolen out of her car.
Van der Westhuizen parked her vehicle on the bridge and stood nearby taking photos for her honours project. When she got back in her car, she found that her handbag, laptop, tablet and cellphone had been stolen.
According to bystanders, two “scruffy-looking men with long hair” had parked their vehicle next to her car for a little while, then had driven further and made a u-turn at the gate.
It is suspected that the men had kept an eye on Van der Westhuizen, had noticed that she had not locked her car, stolen the items and, acting like tourists, had driven up to the gate before turning around and heading back the way they had come.
Some helpful bystanders aided Van der Westhuizen and immediately gave her their phone to call her mother, Carine. A nearby policeman also helped her when she relayed the incident to him.
Van der Westhuizen’s mother posted the incident on facebook and warned locals and tourist to be vigilant when parking at the bridge. “We’re all comfortable on the bridge and you don’t think about locking your car, since you’re standing right next to it. We should all be more security conscious and lock our car doors after getting out,” she cautioned.
Tourists and locals are urged to be aware of their surroundings, to ensure that their cars are locked and their valuables hidden from view when parked at well-known stops such as the bridge.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is requested to contact the Malelane Police Station on 013-790-2720.
