Centurion jogger held at gunpoint, forced to transfer R2 000
A morning workout ended in the bushes after three attackers forced a runner to transfer digital cash and wipe his account.
Centurion police are urging road runners to stay alert after three men threatened a jogger at gunpoint in Raslouw.
The incident happened at about 11:00 on November 8 at the corner of Ruimte and Phederine roads, where the victim was allegedly followed by two men before a third suspect approached him with a firearm.
According to police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, the complainant noticed two men following him while jogging in the area.
Becoming suspicious, he stopped under the pretence of adjusting his shoelaces before switching to another running lane to distance himself from them.
However, the two suspects continued following him.
Attackers rob runner in bushes
Shortly afterwards, a third man approached the runner, pointed a firearm at him and instructed the runner to follow him, while the other two suspects remained nearby.
Van Dyk said the victim complied and was taken to a nearby bushy area, where the three suspects robbed him of his cellphones, running shoes and wristwatch.
The suspects allegedly went further by forcing the victim to transfer R2 000 to a cellphone number through a wallet transaction.
“One of the suspects subsequently contacted an unknown person to withdraw the money,” Van Dyk said.
The suspects then instructed the victim to delete the data from his iCloud account before eventually releasing him.
They then fled the scene in an unknown vehicle.
Despite the frightening ordeal, no shots were fired, and the victim did not sustain any physical injuries.
Van Dyk confirmed that a case of armed robbery had been opened and that investigations were ongoing.
Police share safety advice for road runners
The incident highlights the safety risks faced by residents who exercise along roads, particularly those using quieter routes where they may be more vulnerable to opportunistic criminals.
Runners are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings, avoid isolated routes where possible and consider exercising with others rather than running alone.
Changing running routes and times can also help avoid predictable routines, while keeping a cellphone accessible can be useful in an emergency.
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