Robbery roads: AfriForum intervenes in spike traps

The civil rights organisation AfriForum announced today that its neighbourhood watches in and around Pretoria are giving their commitment to combating the serious increase in the use of spike traps that are currently recorded on several main routes, especially on the outskirts of the city. This civil intervention forms part of AfriForum’s broader campaign to curb the criminal bloodshed carried out by opportunistic criminals and possibly even organised groups using spike and stone traps in particular.

Several serious incidents of spiking have been reported over the past few weeks. A man was killed the Sunday before last (31 March) in an attack on the N4 east of Pretoria when robbers stabbed him with a knife after his vehicle’s tyres were damaged by sharpened iron spikes placed on the road. He was attacked, robbed and killed when he pulled over to inspect the damaged tyres.

This modus operandi is becoming ever more common and even ambulances and vehicles from the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) have been the target of these attacks.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety, it was found that sections of the N1 north of Pretoria, the R80, the N4 in the north of the city as well as the N4 route in the vicinity of Pretoria East have already become notorious for these traps. In addition, other roads such as Garsfontein and De Villebois Mareuil Drives have also been identified as ambush hotspots.

“Our neighbourhood watches in the Pretoria area have committed themselves to include the hotspots, where spiking and stone traps regularly occur, in their patrol routes, to be on the lookout for any suspicious objects on these routes and to help civilians who might need assistance in this regard,” says Broodryk.

Broodryk emphasises that the use of sharpened iron spikes to damage cars and thus force motorists to stop and then fall victim to an attack was previously a technique used on back roads and quiet routes. “Criminals, however, have now started to apply this technique to busier roads as well, although it is often carried out at quieter times of day, and especially at night,” he explains.

AfriForum calls on local Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and other community safety structures to join hands with AfriForum in combating this type of crime.

Broodryk gives the following practical advice to motorists regarding spike and stone traps:

• Under no circumstances must the car be stopped after an incident in which the vehicle’s tyres, windscreen or other parts have been damaged. Continue driving as far as possible until you reach a safe destination.
• Contact your local neighbourhood watch, a security company or emergency services as soon as possible and inform them of the incident. Give full details of the object used in the trap and provide the address or location thereof. This will prevent attacks on other motorists who may be targeted in the same way.
• Make sure your cellphone is charged before you hit the road.
• Share your location with loved ones, especially when traveling alone.
• Be alert and get into the habit of looking ahead in the road to spot any threats, foreign objects, or people on or along the road.
• Save the contact numbers of the emergency services, the local neighbourhood watch or security companies on your phone.
• Consider installing an emergency service application, such as the AfriForum 911 panic button application, on your phone. This application is available for free on Google Play Store (for Android devices) and App Store (for iOS devices).

Visit AfriForum’s campaign page www.robberyroads.co.za for regular updates on this campaign.

Get involved with your nearest AfriForum neighbourhood watch today. For more information, visit www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za.