Uber drivers are now the targets of robbers in Bokmakierie and Kewtown when they pick up or drop off patrons to take them to their different destinations.
“Athlone Police appeals to the drivers to be vigilant and careful when they pick up the patrons in these areas as their safety is at risk. We all know they render a much-needed service to the communities in Athlone, but it came under our attention that they are robbed while delivering the service,” says Sgt Zita Norman, spokesperson for Athlone Police Station.
According to her, this trend occurred between Tuesday 1 April and Wednesday 28 May.
During this period, there were other robberies and an increase in crime.
The station services three sectors and different communities.
Sector 1 includes areas such as Gatesville, Rylands, Hatten, Mocha, Bridgetown and a section of Silvertown. Sector 2 covers Kewtown, Hazendal, a section of Bridgetown and Silvertown. Sector 3 includes Athlone CBD, Rondebosch, Belgravia, Zwartdam, Lochiel, Gleemoor and Sunnyside.
“Athlone Police Station is bordered by the north of the N2, south by Klipfontein Road, East by Jan Smuts Drive and west by Jakes Gerwel Drive. Robberies occur mostly on a Monday and a Sunday, early in the morning from 01:00 until 23:59 the evening and the common methods used are, stabbing, grabbing, taking items with force, using a firearm and threatening.
“I am appealing to the communities to be careful and safe when they go on their daily errands as you never know when you will become a statistic of a robbery. We always believe it only happens to someone else, until you experience a robbery or are shot first-hand,” Norman says.