Victims have reported an alarming new modus operandi targeting spiking incidents on roads in and around Pretoria. 

According to the victims, criminals are now going to extremes to get motorists to stop on highways. 

It is believed that armed robbers throw spikes out of their car windows while driving in front of you to force you to stop. 

An incident happened in broad daylight on the Platinum N4 highway between Hartbeespoort and Pretoria earlier this week. 

According to a report by the Komorant, Lize Swanepoel was on her way back from Pretoria on the highway at 10:30 when two men inside a Volkswagen Polo allegedly tried to push her off the road and threw spikes in front of her car. 

Her tyre was destroyed.

“I was just past the first toll gate from Pretoria when I noticed the Polo. The driver drove close to me, seemingly trying to force me off the road. I kept driving, keeping my eye on them. Then they pulled in front of me, and the passenger threw spikes out the window. I hit the spikes and my tyre went flat immediately.“ 

She explained that she knew that she had to keep driving. 

“The Polo was still in front of me. About 100m from the toll gate near Hartbeespoort, the car could not drive anymore and I had to stop. I saw the Polo turning around. And then a miracle happened. A Sanral bakkie pulled up. The Polo turned around again and sped away.” 

According to Lize the Sanral official said he was driving behind her and saw the Polo’s behaviour. 

“I am so thankful for his assistance. Things might have turned out worse. We are so aware of the spiking incidents lately and I am just glad I could keep calm and concentrate on getting to safety. This seems to be a whole new mode of operation. We are not even safe in daylight,” Swanepoel says.

Spiking hotspots in and around Pretoria:

• The R21, between OR Tambo International Airport;
• N4 towards Pretoria, Donkerhoek area
• The R562, Olifantsfontein, N3, Leondale and Barry Marais
• N17 between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road

Motorists are advised not to stop when they suspect they have become a spiking victim, especially at night, instead should drive on slowly to the nearest garage or police station.

Previously, these areas and roads were targeted:

• The N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane Freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate
• The N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp
• The N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp
• Golden Highway

-The N1 Polokwane N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria

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