Gauteng: How do criminals go about highway spiking robberies?
Here is the modus operandi being used by criminals in the recent highway spiking robberies in and around Gauteng.
Police have revealed the modus operandi used by criminals in highway-spiking robberies.
More incidents are reported in Gauteng every week, but what are the criminals doing, and what should you know?
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said criminals place spikes on the road, before covering them with plastic or leaves.
SPIKES ARE PLACED ON THE ROAD, AND THEN COVERED WITH LEAVES
“They would then hide nearby after the motorist drives over the spikes and their car stops; the perpetrators will approach and threaten the motorist, at times armed with a firearm or a sharp object.
“They would then rob the motorist and passengers and then disappear into the darkness.”
Blue light gangs, spikes and rocks – a number of incidents have been reported this week.
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 27, 2024
•Hotspots:
N12 (between eMalahleni and Springs)
N4 (outside Pretoria and between Bronkhorstpruit and also near the Mabopane area- Pelindaba road, west of Pretoria).
R80 Hercules area.…
HERE ARE THE HOTSPOTS IN GAUTENG:
- N17 Freeway from Wemmer Pan to Devon
- N3 South from Leondale to Heidelberg
- N12 Golden Highway to Potchefstroom
- R80 Mabopane Freeway from Eskia Mphahlele Road to Soshanguve
- R59 From Tubisa Park to the Vaal River.
- N4 West in Akasia to Brits
- N4 East to Bronkhorspruit
- N1 from Midrand to Carousel Plaza
- Ben Schoeman Road from Midrand to Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre
- N1 South from Naturena to Vaal River.
AUTHORITIES URGE MOTORISTS TO COMPLY WITH WARNING BOARDS ON HIGHWAYS
“Motorists are urged to comply with the warning board erected on the highways which reads ” Do no stop for the next five km” as that space is a hot spot mainly during night between 20:00 until 04:00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.”
Anyone with information on spiking incidents may contact the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
POLICE HAVE DEPLOYED A HIGHWAY PATROL UNIT
Kweza furthermore said police had deployed a SAPS Highway Patrol Unit to enhance policing and visibility on the National and Provincial Roads.
“However, the lack of lighting on the major roads remains an inhibiting factor to effective road policing. Highway Patrol members collaborate with Flying Squad and members from the police stations policing the affected areas as well as National & Provincial Traffic and the three Metropolitan Police Departments.”
AUTHORITIES HAVE INSTRUCTED ALL POLICE-MARKED VEHICLES TO CONDUCT BLUE LIGHT PATROLS AT NIGHT
She issued instructions for all SAPS-marked vehicles deployed at night to conduct blue light patrols to increase visibility.
“The team has previously arrested 13 suspects and linked them to five armed robbery cases related to spiking. Some cases are still in court, while two have been finalised.
“The accused Emmanuel Muperi (19) was sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbery with a firearm while Michael Moyo (29) was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery with other weapon. The team was disbanded as the threat had been stabilised.” – Kweza said.
THE TEAM HAS ARRESTED EIGHT SUSPECTS LINKED TO 25 CASES
She said this threat then started emerging again early in 2023, with incidents increasing around June 2023 in Tshwane District.
Kweza added that the team has arrested eight suspects linked to 25 cases.