[imagesource:here]

A shocking video making its way around social media has revealed that tyre spiking incidents are no longer exclusive to nighttime or empty roads.

So-called “spike robbers” use metal spikes to force motorists to pull over to fix their damaged tyres and then take that opportunity to rob them.

The dashcam footage shows a barefoot woman standing in the middle of the N1 South in Tshwane after her vehicle’s tyres were spiked late on Sunday morning.

Disturbingly, the incident took place in broad daylight and as the highway was teeming with other vehicles.

The incident was caught on another motorist’s dashcam as she drove past, reported the Pretoria Rekord:

“Even if it’s during the day, rather drive slowly to a safe place like a garage where you can then repair or change the tyre,” said Christine Kraamwinkel, who took the footage.

Kraamwinkel and her friend were travelling along the highway, between the Sefako Makgatho Drive and Stormvoël Road tollgates, when they came across an unidentified woman who had just pulled over on the side of the road because of a burst tyre.

She [the victim] told us a man came to her window, wanting to attack her with a knife,” Kraamwinkel told Rekord.

Somehow the victim managed to run into the middle of the road, where she remained panicked and clutching at her handbag:

Woman escapes spike robber unharmed

“Please do not pull over if you have tyre issues on the highway, even if it’s during the day. Rather drive slowly to a safe place like a garage where you can then change the tyre.” https://t.co/AdCPD8sKdn#RekordNews #RekordPretoria pic.twitter.com/LxndufmofR

— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) October 7, 2021

Thankfully, the suspect was unharmed and no possessions were taken.

The police found a hammer and the spiking device in the nearby veld, as well as what appears to be an evidence bag stuffed with an article of clothing:

Image: SAPS

Because robbers are out to take advantage of you when you stop to inspect your damaged tyres, it is advised that you just keep driving on, no matter how much more damage is done to your vehicle.

The best bet is to drive to a nearby petrol or police station.

The Citizen has more:

Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo previously said police had “stabilised” spiking incidents in Gauteng, which have become a serious concern in recent months, especially on the N4 highway and along the R566.

“If motorists suspect that their tyre punctures are as a result of having driven over spikes, they must immediately alert the police by calling the SAPS emergency number 10111, scanning their immediate environment and by staying vigilant while changing their tyre but [if] they feel unsafe then they must try to drive to the nearest filling station or police station.”

Stay vigilant out there folks, at all hours and on all roads.

[sources:thecitizen&thepretoriarekord]