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2 months ago
22
Police have issued a nationwide warning about drink spiking, robberies, and deaths linked to drinking establishments ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
- Police have issued a nationwide warning about drink spiking, robberies, and deaths linked to drinking establishments ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
- Both men and women are urged to remain vigilant, as syndicates are targeting individuals at alcohol outlets.
- Syndicates use young women to lure men in clubs, taverns, and concerts, often spiking their drinks before robbing them.
As New Year’s Eve celebrations approach, police issued a nationwide warning following an increase in cases involving drink spiking, robberies and deaths linked to drinking establishments, urging both men and women to remain vigilant.
In a statement on Tuesday, police said they had identified a disturbing modus operandi being used by syndicates to target mainly men.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe added: “This festive season, SAPS have noted several cases reported in various parts of the country like Gauteng and the North West where men, who left with women from drinking places, ended up being robbed or, in some instances, killed.”
Mathe said these syndicates used young women to target men in clubs, taverns, concerts and other drinking establishments.
“The main syndicate would monitor these females’ movements and assist them in finding a possible target inside the drinking establishment.
She added:
Once the target has been identified, the women would move in, often promise to leave with the unsuspecting victim to another drinking place, their home, a hotel or even a guesthouse.
The women would then spike the men’s drinks.
Mathe said that once a victim’s drink had been spiked, the syndicate moved in to rob them, often taking their vehicles, cellphones and cash.
“In some unfortunate instances, some men have died because of an overdose of what was used to spike them. Men are therefore warned to be extra vigilant and to avoid being targets at these drinking outlets,” she added.
Police advised against picking up strangers at drinking establishments and leaving with them. Women were also urged not to involve themselves in criminal activity, as this often led to their being arrested.
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However, police warned that men were not the only victims, with women also increasingly being targeted.
Mathe said several cases have been reported nationwide of women who were found raped, assaulted or dead after leaving taverns, shebeens, nightclubs and other places of recreation.
Some are picked up by strangers at these drinking outlets, and some even leave with their intimate partners or other people known to them. Some of these women victims are found brutally assaulted, and some are murdered.
“Women are urged not to fall prey to these men who target women for their own motives. Spiking, regardless of the victim’s gender, is a serious crime with severe physical and psychological consequences,” she added.
Police shared the following safety tips for both men and women:
- Go out with people you know, stay together and watch out for one another.
- Always share your plans with someone you trust, including where you are going and when you plan to return. Keep your location services switched on to help family or police locate you if needed.
- Never leave your drink unattended, do not drink and drive, limit your alcohol intake and drink water.
- Plan safe transportation to and from places of leisure to avoid accidents or detention for drunk driving.
