Hikers watch helplessly as thieves target their cars in Table Mountain National Park

• A group of hikers were rendered nearly powerless during a hike in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) on Saturday 25 May as they could only look down to their flashing car alarms parked on Tafelberg Road while their vehicles were actively being broken into.
• One of the victims shared the incident in a Facebook post

A group of hikers were rendered nearly powerless during a hike in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) on Saturday 25 May as they could only look down to their flashing car alarms parked on Tafelberg Road while their vehicles were actively being broken into.

One of the victims shared the incident in a Facebook post on Sunday 26 May: “We had an amazing hike last night and as we came down the mountain we were quite high up when we saw our vehicles parked far below on Tafelberg Road alarm being triggered and the lights flashing. We knew that they were busy breaking into our vehicles.”

The hiker added that he immediately alerted his safety tracking service that in turn alerted Saps.

Extensive details as to the exact time the incident occurred or items stolen during this time is not known to People’s Post.

Friends of Table Mountain’s (FoTM) chair Andy Davison said he was not alerted to the incident, “but I know City of Cape Town officials were patrolling around Devil’s Peak regularly”.

FoTM chair Andy Davison said more cameras need to be installed in the TMNP’s parking areas to assist the fight against criminal activities surrounding Table Mountain. PHOTO: Facebook/Supplied

However, he said that the TMNP car parks remain a constant headache, regarding car break-ins, between South African National Parks (SANParks) and the City, adding: “Cameras need to be installed and regular patrolling needs to occur.”

SANParks spokesperson Lauren Howard Clayton confirmed the incident, saying SANParks TMNP is aware of the car break-ins that took place along Devil’s Peak over the weekend.

SANParks urge anyone with information regarding these incidents to contact Saps for further investigation.

“We remind visitors to avoid leaving valuables in their vehicles and to remain vigilant at all times. Additionally, we urge visitors to carry out their activities between the hours of sunrise and sunset,” Clayton noted in conclusion.