The South African Police Service implemented a 72-hour activation plan to track down five men who robbed 11 tourists in Khayelitsha on Friday.
“Five armed men made their way into the premises of a school where [the tourists] were. The suspects, wearing reflector jackets, ordered the group into a vehicle and robbed them,” said Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa. They took their cameras, wallets and cellphones.
#sapsWC The 72 hour activation plan has been ordered for the arrest of suspects as Khayelitsha detectives are probing an armed robbery case after 11 tourists were robbed in the area yesterday. No one sustained injury during the incident. #CrimeStop TMhttps://t.co/vKgYFplox3 pic.twitter.com/NRUEIdFOvF
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 12, 2020
According to News24, the tourists are from the United States and were visiting a gardening project in Site C with a local guide.
Statements were taken from the victims, of which none were injured, in order to help with the investigation and arrest of the gang. Cape Town Tourism have implemented their Band-Aid programme which gives the visitors counselling and remedial support after the incident.
Over the tourist season, the City had already stepped up security at tourist centres and crime hotspots, in order to curb the effect of crime on those visiting and travelling around the city.
Image: Twitter/ gatekeepering
