Two men have been arrested in connection with a series of robberies targeting men lured through a dating app in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The victims were allegedly assaulted and forced to access their bank accounts at an abandoned house in Scottsville.
Dating App Used to Target Victims
Several cases have been reported to Pietermaritzburg police stations over the past two months, with victims describing a similar pattern. According to Mi7 National Group director Colin David, the victims communicated with an individual on a dating app who then lured them to an address in Scottsville.
Upon arrival, the victims were confronted by between five and seven suspects and forced inside an abandoned building. They were then held in a room, assaulted at gunpoint, and compelled to empty their bank accounts via mobile banking apps, using e-wallets or direct transfers.
Breakthrough in Investigation
A breakthrough in the case occurred when one victim provided banking records detailing the ATM location and time of fund withdrawals. This information led Alexandra Road police station detectives to Scottsville Mall, where CCTV footage of the suspects and their vehicle were obtained.
Mi7 teams then utilized their Surveillance Net, a network of over 150 camera systems with automatic number plate recognition software, to track the vehicle throughout Pietermaritzburg and the surrounding midlands area.
Arrests and Evidence Recovered
On Sunday, the vehicle, a VW Polo, was flagged in the Scottsville area, initiating a search involving police, Mi7 teams, and another security company. The vehicle was stopped on Oribi Road, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, one of whom possessed a firearm with live ammunition.
A subsequent search of the abandoned building revealed additional live ammunition, over 40 car keys, half a dozen vehicle ignitions, a computer box for a vehicle, an alarm modem, and gate remote controls.
“It is believed the suspects may be linked to other crimes. It is also believed there were more victims, some of whom have not opened cases due to fear of the stigma attached,” said David.
Further investigations are ongoing.
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