Resident Fathima Patel urges the Midrand community to be extra cautious when visiting the McDonald’s Midridge drive-through, after her family was mugged while collecting their order.

Patel said the incident occurred on October 29 at around 21:00, as she and her husband waited at the collection window with their two children in the car.

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“After we ordered and paid using a phone, we drove [to the collection window]. The [car] window was still open. [As] my husband had his phone in his hand, about to show me something, a man crept up from the side.

“He grabbed my husband’s hand and wouldn’t let go. He looked around inside the car, and that was when my husband opened the car door, knocking the man down, but he managed to snatch the phone and ran off between our car and the one in front of us. “Towards the entrance, the getaway car, a white Mercedes, was waiting for him.”

She added that although no weapons were shown, the experience left the family traumatised. “We are all shaken up, but the children are feeling it more. My 13-year-old, who is autistic, had an anxiety attack, and both children, the 13 and nine-year-old, now sleep in my room. They are scared.”

The family immediately reported the incident to the Midrand Police Station after cancelling their banking apps. However, as of the day we spoke to them, they were still waiting for a case number to finalise the report and begin their insurance claim for the stolen phone.

“I went back to McDonald’s yesterday to request CCTV footage for insurance purposes, but they refused to share the footage, saying that they are only allowed to share it with the police. Which was when we realised that the police had not even registered the case yet.”

Patel said McDonald’s staff informed her that similar incidents have taken place recently, allegedly involving the same white Mercedes. “[McDonald’s staff] know the getaway car. My concern is, if it’s happening often, why isn’t safety a priority? Why is there no private company, like ADT, parked there just for two hours at least?

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“They can pick a random guy from the street and give him an orange vest, and call him security. They need to have a proper security system in place with trained staff to at least press the panic button.”

In the meantime, Patel is appealing to residents to remain alert when using drive-through services at night, avoid displaying phones or valuables, and keep windows only partially open when possible.

The Midrand Reporter will request a comment from Midrand police once the case number has been issued.

Some of the South African Police Service’s safety awareness tips for a vehicle are:
• Always lock your vehicle’s doors and keep the windows closed,
• Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if you think you will be away for only a minute,
• If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide – only 5 cm is enough to have a discussion, and
• Limit your trips at night, or at least take someone along with you.

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