The South African Police Service has urged women in the Camps Bay and Clifton areas to be extra careful when walking alone.

This after a number of alleged firsthand accounts of harassment were posted on social media.

While these accounts have not been confirmed, they appear to have something in common.

Many claim that a man in a white car has been targeting women in the Atlantic Seaboard area.

Cape Town Etc reports that an undated video has been doing the rounds which captures a woman walking down Kloof Road in Camps Bay.

It looks like she narrowly avoided a possible kidnapping:

Whilst most likely unrelated, another social media user described her experience of what she believed to be an attempted kidnapping on the private Facebook group Hout Bay Organised.

This one took place in Hout Bay earlier in the week, and she also mentions a white car:

SAPS Camps Bay Station Commander Captain Keith Chandler says that the station has not received any reports of kidnappings, or human trafficking in the area.

“We are aware of the videos posted but again nothing reported at this police station. We encourage all runners and visitors to be vigilant and especially women to run or walk with a group or with a training partner. Due to the poor economic climate we cannot rule out opportunistic crime,” he said.

SAPS advises women to take the following precautions.

• Go out in groups.
• Keep your valuables concealed.
• Always let someone know where you are going and check-in when you get there.
• Install tracking software, like Glympse, on your phone, and give access to someone that you trust.
• Install the Buzzer app.

It’s a good idea for women to do this no matter where you are.

Unfortunately, we live in a country with astoundingly high rates of gender-based violence.

Stay safe and stay vigilant.

[source:capetownetc]