The police in Johannesburg arrested four men at a Parktown restaurant for targeting customers based on their sexual orientation.

The men who have been preying on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community would use a dating app created for this community to target and entice victims to remote locations, abduct them and then rob them.

One of their victims – a 26-year-old man – was convinced by one of the suspects to go to a location on February 12. They hijacked him, took him hostage, and robbed him of his possessions, including his bank cards. The thieves then used the victim’s bank cards to make several purchases.

The Anti-Kidnapping Task Team validated information as soon as the incident was reported to the Mondeor Police Station. The team closed in on the four men who were meeting the victim in the restaurant on the day of the kidnapping.

According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the suspects had the victim’s possessions, including his wallet, handbag, and smartphone.

The suspects have already appeared before the Booysens Magistrate’s Court. Each of them faced a charge of hijacking, kidnapping, and extortion.

“The victim’s hijacked vehicle, a Mercedes C180, has not been recovered. The victim was rescued and has since been reunited with his family,” said Mathe.

The police thanked all participants, including JMPD K9, Gauteng Traffic, Tracker Connect, and members of the private security sector, for co-operating with them to bring down this syndicate.