SAPS warn hitchhikers, motorists
The police appeal to the community to use formal modes of transport rather than hitchhiking and for motorists to not give strangers lifts.
The SAPS warns all hitchhikers and motorists offering lifts to strangers to stop their actions immediately.
According to Captain Linky Olckers, the Sundra SAPS commander, and Captain Carla Hartley, the media spokesperson for the Delmas Police, the Delmas and Sundra Police precincts are experiencing an increase in robberies directly related to hitchhikers.
The incidents happen on the R42 towards Bronkhorstspruit, the R50 towards Bapsfontein and on the N12.
Hitchhiking dangers:
• It increases the risk of injury at the roadside because some hitchhikers are not visible enough at night, and a truck or other vehicles could strike them.
• While standing on the road, the police might arrest you because some drivers and hitchhikers are wanted suspects, and you might be arrested with them.
• Hitchhiking could leave you stranded in an unfamiliar place.
• You could be subject to verbal or physical abuse such as rape, assault or robbery.
• Some passengers pretend to ask for a lift but rob the driver who picked them up, sometimes raping or killing them.
• People are also in danger of hit-and-run accidents, especially at night.
The community must not hitchhike but use formal modes of transport, the police appealed, adding that motorists must not give lifts to strangers.
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