THE festive season is upon us and people will be withdrawing large amounts of cash for stokvels, weddings, parties and other celebrations.
With this,LIMPOPO cops are urging people, especially business owners and stokvel beneficiaries, to desist from withdrawing large amounts of cash during this time of the year. during the upcoming festive season.
This comes after a 45-year-old man was allegedly robbed of R260 000 in cash on Tuesday, 22 November.
The victim had apparently withdrawn the money from a bank at the Mall of the North outside Polokwane, Limpopo, at about 10am.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the victim was unaware that he was being followed by three unknown suspects from the mall when he drove to his Thornhill Estate residence.
Limpopo police spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said upon arrival at the estate’s security gate, he was confronted by two unknown men who came out of a white Toyota Corolla.
Ledwaba said their accomplice remained inside their car while the two robbed the man of a bag containing the money and a wrist watch at gunpoint.
“The suspects managed to flee the scene and the 45-year-old victim followed them until Die Meer Street towards Ladanna, where the suspects allegedly fired some shots at him and he retreated without injuries and went to report the incident to police,” said Ledwaba.
The robbery was captured on video footage. Police are urging anyone with information about the suspects captured on the video footage to call Sergeant Maphuta Ngoepe on 082 685 9507.
, one suspect can be seen carrying a gun and confronting the victim while the other suspect goes to the passenger side. They are then seen fleeing carrying a bag believed to have the money.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has cautioned communities to avoid carrying large sums of money in their possession as this wasn’t not necessary.
“I encourage everyone to use electronic transactions to avoid being victims,” said Hadebe.
