Police respond to spike traps on R513

Police said they have increased patrols and visibility on the R513, which is viewed as a “hotspot” area after at least eight spike-trap incidents at the weekend.

Cullinan police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi said spike cases were reported on Friday night between Baviaanspoort prison and the Mamelodi crossing.

“In some of the cases, victims were robbed of their possessions,” Moganedi said.

At least three victims were robbed between 21:00 and 23:00 on Friday, and more vehicles’ tyres were damaged due to spikes placed on the road.

Cullinan CPF spokesperson Karen Yssel previously told Rekord that one of the victims were also shot in the leg.

Yssel said police, who had been patrolling near the R513, had quickly responded to the scene – leading to a gunfight between police and armed robbers.

“Unfortunately the suspects managed to escape in a getaway vehicle,” said Yssel.

Police did manage to recover the spikes that were used on the road.

Yssel said a worrying trend in recent spike-trap robberies was that suspects were no longer just lying in wait for vehicles to pull off next to the road to change tyres. Now they were actually following their victims in a getaway vehicle.

“Motorists should not stop, until they reach the nearest police station,” Yssel advised.

Moganedi said although more police patrols can be expected on the R513, it is still important for motorists to remain vigilant at all times, and especially when travelling at night.

“The head of Visible Policing in the area, Captain AC Gertzen, committed himself to put in more efforts to ensure the safety of road users and the community in his policing precinct,” Moganedi concluded.

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