Last week the police saw an increase in robbery with seven fire arm cases being reported to the Witbank SAPS with in the passed seven days.
At about 08:30 on August 23 a man was jogging in Watermeyer Street when he was called over by two men that was walking in the opposite direction. They apparently wanted directions to Ogies. As the jogger was explaining how to get there one of the suspects pulled out a gun and threatened the victim. They demanded his Samsung phone which he apparently used to listen to music while running. The victim handed over his one and was left unharmed.
In the same week a woman returned to her vehicle after doing shopping. Before she could get into her car that was parked near the shopping centre two men suddenly approached her and held a gun against her back. The victim was apparently immediately told not to scream. They took her phone and cash and other cards in her wallet before fleeing.
Another armed robbery took place in Jellico Street at about 18:00 in the evening when the victim apparently pulled his vehicle over because he heard a strange noise coming from his vehicle. When he pulled over to check on it he was approached by an armed robber. The man demanded all his money. After the robber claimed his cash the suspect ran away.
Another armed robbery in the Central Business District happened at 20:30 on August 21. The suspect stole a cell phone and a bag containing several valuables. An unusual armed robbery occurred on the Old Middelburg road when a hitch hiker was offered a lift by two men in a Mercedes Benz. While they were driving the men pulled out a gun from underneath on of the seats and robbed the hitch hiker before dumping him next to the road half way to Middelburg.
The SAPS have warned the community on several occasions to not accept lifts from people or pick people up. They also advise people that if they ever find themselves a victim of an armed robbery to not resist or fight back but rather comply with their demands as a life is more valuable than your possessions.
