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Human Interest

SAPS warn motorists about hijackers' 'Good Samaritan' tactic

───   11:55 Tue, 11 Dec 2018

SAPS warn motorists about hijackers' 'Good Samaritan' tactic | News Article

In the run-up to the festive season, criminals are going to get increasingly desperate and more creative.


In fact, Pretoria SAPS are already warning drivers about the latest scheme devised by hijackers.

The police department has laid bare the scheme to the Pretoria Rekord, giving it the codename “Good Samaritan”. The criminals will “inform” unsuspecting motorists that there is something wrong with their car – telling them to pull over and check it out.

The first car will then drive off, allowing the potential victim to park at the side of the road by themselves. However, a second car will then pull in next to the targeted vehicle, and that’s where they will pounce.

Their usual modus operandi is to pretend something is wrong with “the rear-left tyre”, as that’s the wheel most obscured from a motorist’s immediate view.

It happened twice in less than an hour last week. One motorist was forced into the back of a VW Polo, had his cell phone and cash stolen from him, and was eventually dropped off at Cosmo City. The gang moved to nick his Toyota Hilux once he was bundled into the backseat.

The other victim had his bakkie stolen when he was duped into investigating his back-tyre. In what was essentially a duplicate of the first attack, the same belongings were stolen as he was forced to lie down before being discarded at Eldorado.

'Good Samaritan' crimes on the rise

It follows in the footsteps of the “money bomb” scheme which operates on the same principles, but in a different context. Criminals are also targeting people using public ATMs, and hoping to appeal to their human nature.

Scammers will follow someone from the cash machine, drop a wad of money near them (made up mainly of sheets of paper), and ask them if it’s theirs. If they say no, they ask the person if they feel like splitting it “somewhere quieter”. Once you’re secluded from public view, the robbers will then mug you for the original amount you withdrew.

Don’t let your guard down this Christmas: Be safe, be smart.


The South African

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