Students warned against cellphone robberies

by Susanna Anbu | Feb 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

SUSANNA ANBU
By 10 February, two incidents had been reported to the Brooklyn SAPS pertaining to cellphone robberies that took place in Hatfield between 20:00 and 22:00. In both instances, the cellphones were grabbed from the pedestrians by an unknown man. The victims were a 22 year old woman and a 30 year old man. Despite the victims walking with a group of friends, the suspect was not deterred and stole the cellphones. In similar instances, the suspect proceeded to make their way to a getaway car described as being a Toyota Corolla with the registration number DW30ZMGP.
The cell phone robberies all took place within the vicinity of the University of Pretoria Hatfield campus, near residences, social clubs and entertainment hubs. Captain Colette Weilbach of the Brooklyn SAPS urges the public to avoid public cellphone usage that will garner the attention of a potential robber.

The need to be vigilant on the streets of Hatfield was emphasised through various safety awareness campaigns spearhead by Brooklyn SAPS. At one such campaign held at Respublica, Mr Danie Basson from the Hatfield City Improvement District (CID) brought to attention some of the crime tendencies in Hatfield. Marlene Kruger, the Brooklyn Community Police Forum (CPF) emphasised situational awareness, urging students to “Put your head up and your cell phone down”.

Members of the public are urged by Brooklyn SAPS to minimise cellphone usage in public and cultivate a vigilant attitude at all times. Individuals who have information on these robberies can contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Michael Rametsi at Brooklyn police station at (012) 366 1742, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211 or the MySAPS app to report crime anonymously.

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Susanna is currently stu(dying) genetics and joined the PDBY team in 2019. She divides her time between writing and playing with plant disease samples. Her contributions span across Science, politics and all things spicy. If you are or were in the SRC, she’s probably spammed you with messages for a story. She’s got a memory like an elephant – so she probably keeps track of student promises. Picture not to scale.