The dangers of hitch-hiking are again under the spotlight after a recent armed robbery that was reported to Estcourt police station.

The elderly victim was allegedly hitch-hiking to Pietermaritzburg and accepted a lift in a white Toyota Corolla. Shortly after the journey began, the four men in the car said they had to relieve themselves and the vehicle pulled over. It was then that the seemingly innocent journey took a dark turn…

The victim was forced into the back seat, threatened with a firearm, and badly beaten.

The robbers searched his bag, taking two cellphones and his wallet. They also forced him to reveal the PIN to his banking app. In a disturbing twist, he was forced to drink a bottle of hard liquor, causing him to pass out. He regained consciousness the next day, lying at the roadside.

A passing motorist came to his aid and took him to hospital.

It was later discovered that a large amount of money had been stolen from his bank account.

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Read the full story in next week’s edition of the Estcourt News.

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