Minibus taxi wreaks ‘terror’ in the north
“We would like to urge members of the community be very cautious when they board taxis."
Police in the north of Pretoria has warned commuters to be vigilant of four people in a minibus taxi who were “terrorising” unsuspecting passengers.
Pretoria North police spokesperson Sergeant Tsakani Miyen said the four occupants in the vehicle targeted commuters once they boarded the taxi.
The four were said to be driving around the area in a white Toyota Venture.
Miyen said the four drove around as a usual taxi would looking for unsuspecting commuters then robbed them at gunpoint.
“According to the reports we received, the passenger is told to sit at the back seat where the robbers then forcefully take their valuables,” she said.
After taking the commuter’s valuables, one of the four robbers would demand the victim’s bank card and PIN.
“The same person will then leave to go and withdraw whatever money was available,” Miyen said.
Once the money was withdrawn, the commuter would be allowed to go.
“We would like to urge members of the community be very cautious when they board taxis,” she said, adding that, where possible, they should avoid boarding taxis with four male occupants.
In 2018, members of the infamous “Toyota Quantum gang” who terrorised commuters were busted by the police in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.
At the time, the gang targeted small businesses as they reportedly lacked proper security measures and were vulnerable due to their trading hours.
Upon executing the arrest, one suspect was reportedly fatally wounded during a shoot-out with police while two others were arrested.
At the time, police said they were investigating suspicions that taxi drivers were renting out their vehicles to the group to commit the crimes.
The gang’s modus operandi was that one of them pretended to be a customer before the others entered to rob the store.
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