A manhunt has been launched after a father and daughter were attacked while cycling in the Durbanville area over the weekend. The three assailants were reportedly armed with knives, and made off with the pair’s cellphones and cash.
A case of robbery has been opened for investigation after the father made his way to authorities to report the incident.
Speaking to IOL, a security company said that the suspects only fled when farmers came to assist the victims.
“Three men with knives appeared out of nowhere on the back road to Joostenbergvlakte (close to Fisantekraal) and robbed them of their cell phones. Luckily, a truck with farmers came to their rescue and scared off the men,” the security company said.
It also added that more runners and cyclists are targeted by criminals, as there are several major running and cycling events coming up in the next few months and more people use trails to practice.
“There have been several attacks the past few weeks, not only in Durbanville and surrounds, but Gordon’s Bay and Somerset West as well,” the company said.
Runners and cyclists are advised to be vigilant when out on roads and trails. It is safer to run without earphones in order to hear clearly, and to jog or cycle in large groups for safety.
A 35-year-old was also arrested after allegedly robbing a jogger on Saturday.
“Law enforcement officers on patrol on the Muizenberg/St James Walkway were alerted by a jogger that he had just been robbed of his cellphone by a knife-wielding male suspect. The officers immediately started a search for the suspect and he was apprehended shortly thereafter at St James beach,” Wayne Dyason, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement spokesperson, said. “He was arrested and taken to Muizenberg SAPS where it was discovered he was out on bail for other criminal acts he had allegedly committed.”
Anyone with information about the robbery of cyclists can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860 010111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.
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