Riverview, KwaZulu-Natal – A Phoenix-based businessman was tied up and robbed on Wednesday after being lured to an unoccupied house in Riverview under the guise of a vehicle licensing deal.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the incident occurred at approximately 18:02, when a member of the public contacted their Operations Centre to report a man calling for help from inside a vacant home.
“Reaction Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene,” said RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram. “Upon arrival, they found the victim, who had already been untied by community members.”
The victim, who operates a vehicle licensing business, told officers that he had been communicating with a supposed client who claimed to need assistance registering several vehicles.
After several calls and text messages, the businessman agreed to meet the individual at a location sent to him on Delta Road in Riverview.
“When I arrived, four men came out of nowhere,” the victim said. “They pushed me against the wall, dragged me into an empty house, and tied me up with shoelaces. I thought they were going to kill me.”
The suspects reportedly stole the man’s Samsung S24 Ultra smartphone and an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene in a silver Toyota Etios.
Balram confirmed that the victim did not sustain any injuries but was left shaken by the ordeal. “This incident serves as a reminder for the public to exercise extreme caution when meeting strangers for business transactions, especially in isolated areas,” he added.
Police are investigating, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Reaction Unit South Africa or local authorities.
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Picture: Facebook/RUSA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
