By Everson Luhanga
Police have warned the public to be on the lookout for Facebook scammers after an off-duty officer was held hostage for hours are being tricked into thinking he was buying a car.
The officer and his partner were kidnapped in Winterveld, Tshwane, on Saturday before the alleged scammers cleaned out the cop’s bank account, taking with them R39,000.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said police have opened a case of armed robbery and are searching for the suspects.
Lieutenant-Colonel Masondo said the officer responded to a Facebook advertisement of a car in Winterveld where the officer and his partner drove to view with the intention of possibly buying the advertised vehicle, a Golf 1.
He said the seller sent the officer a location to Winterveld where the alleged car was supposed to be viewed. “Upon arrival, the officer contacted the seller who came to fetch them.”
The suspect got into the victims’ vehicle and drove with them to a location where the Golf 1 was supposed to be.
When they arrived at the address, there was no Golf in sight, and the officer sensed something was wrong. But it was too late, and the gates to the property slammed shut behind them and men appeared from nowhere, shouting and aiming their guns at him and his partner.
“The armed suspects searched them and took their cell phones, his service pistol firearm wallet containing bank card appointment certificate, driver’s licenses, medical aid card, and his partner’s handbag.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Masondo said the suspects robbed the officers of an undisclosed amount of cash and a service pistol.
Masondo said the victims were not injured and police are warning the public to be careful of such incidents, as there are several cases of the same modus operandi that have been reported in Winterveld.
