A 30-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with a robbery related to online shopping on Monday, 22 April 2024 in Winterveldt, Loate.
It is reported that the complainant responded to an advertisement of a truck worth of R100 000 on Facebook Marketplace and the he started communicating with the seller on WhatsApp.
The complainant was given a location where he was supposed to meet with the seller but as per the perpetrators’ modus operandi, the complainant informed the seller of his arrival. He was then approached by two men, one pointing him with a firearm. He immediately drew a firearm and shot the armed suspect while the other one fled the scene on foot.
Community members nearby came to assist the complaint and called the police. The suspect was arrested for attempted armed robbery and for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was taken to hospital where he is under police guard.
The suspect will appear before court as soon.
The Police in Gauteng would like to urge the public to always be vigilant and smart when using online platforms.
The following basic safety tips should always be considered before buying or selling online;
- Avoid communicating with buyers or sellers outside Facebook as possible as you can,
- Don’t share your personal information such as banking details or physical address;
- If you are meeting a buyer or seller in person, arrange to meet in a public and well-lit area or at the nearest police station;
- Do more research on the buyer or seller by visiting their private Facebook profile, a ‘red flag’ is raised when his or her profile was only recently created.
Any criminal activities can be reported at the nearest police station or by calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
