Umzinto Saps K9 members arrested two men, aged 33 and 22, for armed robbery on April 16.

According to police, the suspects picked up two men who were hitchhiking from Umzinto, and dropped them off near Inverugie after robbing them of their cellphones at gunpoint.

“The traumatised men managed to flag down the Umzinto K9 members who were on patrol, who then gave chase after the suspects who were travelling in a grey Hyundai i20,” said police.

The vehicle was then stopped, and suspects arrested.

The men will appear in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

It is alleged that the men are possibly from the Umlazi area.

Police expect more cases to be opened fitting this modus operandi and advise the public to come forward to open a case if they have been victim to such an armed robbery.

Taking this recent incident into consideration, Saps warns the public about the dangers of hitchhiking:

• Hitchhiking places people in a vulnerable position and at the mercy of those with criminal intent. Safety is put at risk as there is no guarantee that an unknown driver will take you safely to your destination.

• Criminals are opportunistic and will not hesitate to rob unsuspecting persons of valuables such as cellphones, cash and expensive clothing items. Women, some hitchhiking with young children, are even more vulnerable and easy targets to be robbed or worse.

• After being robbed a person may be left in a deserted area to find their way home or to the nearest police station.

• Drivers who offer unknown persons a lift are also at risk of being held up with a weapon and hijacked, or robbed of their possessions.

• Do not put your life at risk while trying to save on travelling expenses.

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