Eersterust police warn e-hailing drivers about a spike in hijackings
“Uber and Bolt are the most affected and the police are urging the drivers to stay alert and be vigilant at all times when picking up or dropping off passengers in Eersterust,”
The Eersterust police have issued a warning to e-hailing drivers operating in the area about the spike in car hijackings and attacks on drivers.
This follows after five different incidents involving e-hailing services drivers were reported to the Eersterust police in the last three weeks.
Eersterust police spokesperson Sam Shibambo said the modus operandi of these criminals is said to be requesting a ride from the app and then waiting for the driver to arrive.
“The criminals then proceed to rob or attack the driver upon their arrival at the pickup point.
“In one of the cases, a driver received a notification to pick up a passenger in Eersterust. On arrival at the pickup point, the driver was attacked and stabbed in the thigh by the supposed passengers,” Shibambo said.
He said the attackers then took his belongings and his car keys.
“After the robbery, they threw the car keys in a nearby house and ran away on foot,” he said.
Police report that drivers have also been held at gunpoint on three separate occasions.
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“These drivers were also lured to Eersterust under the pretence of needing a ride. On arrival, they were either robbed on the spot or directed to a secluded area and then robbed at gunpoint.
“Uber and Bolt are the most affected and the police are urging the drivers to stay alert and be vigilant at all times when picking up or dropping off passengers in Eersterust,” said Shibambo.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about the suspects involved in the recent spike of attacks in hijackings to call the Eersterust police station on 012-806-1020 or send an SMS to .
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