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South African Police in Highway Robbery?

On last Friday (Friday 13th) around 1.15pm, whilst I was driving on the R24 from OR Tambo Airport, just before the Barbara Road off ramp a white Toyota Yaris, with four male occupants, drove up to our left and hooted at us then the driver flashed a 'police badge' when I looked in their direction and ordered us to pull over.

On pulling over, one of the 'policemen' came to the driver's side as I opened it, shutting the door and leaning against it, preventing me from getting out (I had wanted to get out to prepare for a 'search' or 'inspection' since our vehicle was a foreign (Botswana) registered vehicle and is ever so often, stopped for this 'anomally'!) Two other 'policemen' went to the passenger side of the vehicle and immediately showed their guns to my colleague in the front passenger seat and his workmate in the rear seat.

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Comments

Posted by eltas on 21 Mar : 17:54
Reply to this	South African Police in Highway Robbery?
Comments: 5	I have also experienced this scam! Last Sunday afternoon, 8th March, I was travelling back from South Africa with my wife - heading along the R22 from Witbank. Just after the R22 joins the OR Tambo Airport intersection a car tailed me flashing it's headlights and hazzards. I pulled into the middle lane and the car drew up alongside with the passenger, dressed in what appeared to be SA Police uniform, signalling me to pull over - I ignored him and he then pulled out an ID document complete with SA Police badge, but titled "Tourist Police" in bold lettering. In that instant my mind raced, thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, SA were getting organised with a special section of police allocated to look after tourists for the 2010 world cup. Everything looked believeable with all three occupants wearing similar uniforms complete with Police caps, but driving an unmarked white Audi A4. The car pulled in front of me and forced me to slow down - I acted as though I was following orders and when they stopped I sped off. They immediately started following, but fortunately for us they were not able to get back into the traffic straight away. I raced to the nearest off-ramp and headed for a Police station. The Police confirmed that there is NO TOURIST POLICE section of the police in existance. Obviously they target people in foreign vehicles going to or coming from the airport. The "tourist police officers" looked to be either Mediteranean or Indian - not sure! Please forward to every Botswana contact in your e-mail address to warn them! I would suggest the following: a.. Be aware of where Police stations are in the area, should you be travelling anywhere near the airport. b.. Don't stop ever! Drive to the nearest police station - even if you may think they are legit police officers in the car following you, you won't get charged if you go straight to the police! c.. Don't race away like we did - drive as normally as possible. d.. Take down their car registration number - it didn't even cross our minds to do so and it's the first thing the police ask for. Take care Angus Boxshall-Smith Africa Unite

Posted by eltas on 21 Mar : 17:55
Reply to this	South African Police in Highway Robbery?
Comments: 5	On the M1 heading south, near the Marlborough off ramp, at 1330 hrs on Saturday I became aware of a light green Toyota alongside me with an Indian with glasses holding up what purported to be a police ID and indicating me to pull over. I had been advised of this Scam by Nigel Turner so I indicated that I would not pull over and he sped off. At the Corlette off ramp I saw that the man had pulled over another foreign registered vehicle and had got out and was approaching it. When I drove very close to him and sounded my horn repeatedly he ran back to his car and drove off. Please advise your contacts of this scam. GJ Phillips Chief Executive The Facilities Management Group(Pty) Ltd t/a PS Cleaning, Shield Security & FMG Management Services Plot 44 GICP P Bag BO 154, Bontleng, Gaborone, Botswana Tel: +2673922923 Fax: +2673972479 Tel: UK Skype 01414164293Africa Unite