Vosman and Kriel Police send a stern warning to motorists and commuters against hitchhiking.

This follows an alarming increase in armed robbery and car-jacking cases.

According to Kriel Police Communications Liaison Officer Constable Angel Makubu, the increase in such cases caught the attention of the police where in different incidents, suspects hiking from police stations, Kingfisher four-way stop, Kinross T-Junction and Rietspruit entrance, hike with ulterior motives.

She said that on Tuesday, February 13 a motorist was robbed and assaulted by four male suspects who apparently hitchhiked with car-jacking intentions.

“The victims were assaulted in the process, tied with cable-ties and left in the middle of the farm near Gauteng, whilst suspects fled the scene with the vehicle and all the victims’ belongings including bank cards,” Makubu shared.

“We warn communities about the dangers of hitch-hikers and encourage drivers to be more vigilant when driving, especially at night,” Makubu ended.

In Vosman, Captain Elizabeth Hlathi mentioned that many people were robbed of their belongings as well as cash in this regard.

“The suspects will offer you the much needed lift but instead of proceeding to the anticipated destiny of the victim, they would change and point the victim with a firearm, reroute into the bushes then rob them or even force them to disclose their bank pin codes where after,” Hlathi ended.

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