A chilling incident has shaken the community of Mabopane, Pretoria, after a victim was hijacked and kidnapped in broad daylight near Ikeleng Primary School On Tuesday, June 18th.
According to the victim, they were hired to assist with transportation, unaware that their boss had been scammed over social media by suspects posing as legitimate clients. The victim was instructed to meet the “clients” at Ikeleng Primary School in Lebanon, Mabopane for a pick up.
Upon arrival, the victim stopped to ask and confirm the location from a lady who appeared to be working at the school. The conversation took a concerning turn when the victim revealed the initial reason for coming to the area. The lady, sensing something was amiss, tried to warn the victim, expressing her suspicions that it might be a scam. Trusting her instincts, the victim handed over his phone to her for safekeeping, in case the supposed clients turned out to be scamming robbers.
Unfortunately, the victim was ambushed by a group of approximately 10 suspects, who hijacked their white truck and kidnapped them. The victim was forced to reveal their phone’s location, which was fetched from the school lady. The suspects then accessed the victim’s banking app after obtaining their phone password. The victim was hit with a gun, left dazed, and dumped in a nearby bush.
The victim, not from the area, has confirmed that a case was opened at LOATE Police Station, and an investigation is underway. The community is on high alert, and residents are urged to be cautious when receiving suspicious requests or offers, especially online.
The “SKANIA” scam has claimed multiple victims in the area, and authorities are working to apprehend the perpetrators. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to come forward and assist in the investigation.
Truck hijacking and kidnapping at Ikeleng Primary School https://t.co/B3gJ4ifwMD#ArriveAlive #TruckHijacking #Kidnapping @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/QhnZ8ViTVk
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 21, 2024
