Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter
Harrowing dashcam footage was made public this week, after a horrified robbery victim ran into the middle of N1 traffic heading southbound to escape the clutches of a car thief. The vehicle had been targeted in a ‘spike trap’, and when the woman pulled over to check her tyres, the crook ambushed her in the lay-by.
Terror on the highway: Woman runs into N1 traffic
From what was caught on camera, we can see the female victim stood between the two middle lanes of the highway, frantically pointing towards her abandoned car. In clear distress, she has to contend with fast-flowing N1 traffic in order to flag down some roadside assistance. Following her drastic actions, the robber decides to run off into the bushes.
This incident took place at 11:30 on Monday morning, between the Sefako Makgatho Drive and Stormvoël Road tollgates. The woman was able to escape with her handbag and personal belongings, and several motorists – including the driver with the dashcam – were able to pull over to assist her.
Watch: Spiking criminals thwarted by victim’s escape
Woman escapes spike robber unharmed
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) October 7, 2021
“Please do not pull over if you have tyre issues on the highway, even if it’s during the day. Rather drive slowly to a safe place like a garage where you can then change the tyre." https://t.co/AdCPD8sKdn#RekordNews #RekordPretoria pic.twitter.com/LxndufmofR
Motorists in N1 traffic rush to woman’s aid
‘Spiking’ is a fairly new criminal trend, but one that is currently soaring in Gauteng. Thieves are now placing – yes, you guessed it – metal spikes on busy roads, to force drivers into pulling over. Once a target car comes to a stop, crooks pounce, and rob victims who have been left with no real means of escape.
The official advice from SAPS, when it comes to spiking, is to stay vigilant, and get to a public place if possible:
“If motorists suspect that their tyre punctures are as a result of having driven over spikes, they must immediately alert the police by calling SAPS’ emergency number 10111, scanning their immediate environment and by staying vigilant while changing tyres. But [if] they feel unsafe, then they must try to drive to the nearest petrol or police station.”
SAPS statement
