A terrifying ordeal in Strand came to an end with a sigh of relief as police swiftly rescued a kidnapped 25-year-old woman and apprehended two suspects.
According to Warrant Officer Nico Beukes, spokesperson for Strand police the series of incidents began on 26 January, when a man and his friend (a woman from Zimbabwe) fell victim to a robbery at the man’s house.
This, he said, was one of two ordeals suffered by the couple. During the first, three armed suspects forced the complainant (at gunpoint) to open his banking app and one of the suspects took the victim’s phone and transferred R500 000 (R250 000 each) to two different bank accounts.
A week later, on 3 February, the couple’s second nightmarish experience occurred. Around 02:20 the complainant and his friend were woken up by an unknown male with a knife. Beukes confirmed the suspect tied the victim up and demanded he open his banking app and he transferred money from the victim’s account again.
“After a while the victim noted the house was quiet and he realised both his friend and his car were missing.
The suspects transferred more money to different bank-accounts. Soon afterwards the complainant received a call from a private number demanding R500 000 for the safe release of the hostage. The suspects also threatened they would kidnap his granddaughter.”
Both ordeals led to a Samsung cellphone, two laptops, a red Suzuki Jimny and cash to the value of R20 000 being stolen.
The authorities formed a dedicated Anti-Kidnapping Task Force that tirelessly followed every lead, and a crucial breakthrough came when they traced some of the stolen money to a specific bank account.
Beukes confirmed this crucial clue had led them to a house in Khayelitsha.
On Thursday 22 February, armed with warrants, the task force descended on the identified location. Their swift action’ resulted not only in the safe recovery of the kidnapped woman, but also in the arrest of two suspects, a 29-year-old man and 22-year-old woman.
The kidnapped woman was found in another house in close proximity to where the first suspect was arrested, the second female suspect was arrested at this property.
The operation uncovered a hidden arsenal, with the team seizing two illegal firearms, 200 rounds of ammunition for different-calibre guns and various types of drugs. Additionally, two tortoises kept in captivity without a permit were also confiscated by the SPCA and Cape Nature.
Beukes pointed out an investigation into other suspects involved in the initial house robbery still continued.
The suspects are facing charges of kidnapping and extortion.
