Be prepared all the time - Crime is largely Opportunistic!

Be prepared all the time - Crime is largely Opportunistic!


I try to be optimistic. I voiced my opposition about those who slated Alan Knott-Craig's letter about optimism because I truly feel we need to be positive and make a contribution to changing the negativity and fear in our country.

But it is hard to be objective when one becomes a victim or almost...

I have been mugged twice before, the first time in 1993 and the second attempt was just over two years ago when I was attacked at knife point in my own driveway by three men. Fortunately I escaped major physical harm then too.

Today I did a stupid thing. I left for a job interview without filling up. I am currently unemployed and doing temp work and typing from home etc and money is tight and I have got used to being amazed at how far my little old red golf can go when the needle is in the red zone

I had just entered the N2 Highway Durban bound from Edwin Swales when my car coughed, choked, valiantly tried to go and then just spluttered to a halt.

I phoned family to ask them to come the rescue with some petrol and while waiting for my brother in law, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a youth of about 17 or so sauntering slowly up the hill behind me on my side of the highway. As I was on a slope, just as a precaution, while watching him in the rear view mirror, I put my car into reverse and let the hand brake down keeping my foot on the brake pedal just in case and waited. Anyway, he just walked on past me and disappeared over the hill. I still felt guilt about my suspicions and this fear that any person one sees could mean potential danger.

About ten minutes later this young man reappeared on the brow of the hill walking this time towards me. But he now had both his hands inside the front pocket of his t-shirt, and it looked to me as if he was holding something in his hands. I knew then what he had in mind as he could not have been on a return trip from anywhere on that road in such a short space of time. So I started my car and managed to drive about 100 or so metres past him up the hill.

He carried on walking down the hill behind me but stopped about 150/ 200 metres down just where the road took a natural bend, and I could see him watching me. I sat there just praying and willing my brother in law to arrive to protect me. This youth then started walking back up the hill towards me. I was in a state 'cos I didn't know what he had in his pocket and what he wanted to do, so I jumped out of my car, locked the door, I then quickly opened my boot and shoved my handbag and cell phone into the boot, closed it and and stuffed my car keys into my bra. At this he started to run up the hill towards me. I just panicked, and although watching the traffic, I ran across all four lanes of the highway to the grass center lane. I didn't know what else to do.

I stood there screaming and waving my arms like a mad thing and pointing to him whilst he still tried to break my passenger window. This at half past eight in the morning , broad daylight , cars whizzing past.

Eventually a truck, a bakkie and a car pulled over and stopped virtually all at the same time. As they got out he stood up and looked at them and casually sauntered over to the middle of the highway near where I was standing and he then just stood and grinned at us all. It was only when the driver of the bakkie made as if to run after him, that he darted across the other side of the highway and disappeared into the bush.

I am totally freaked out about this, and I need to regain my objective and my positivity. I cannot let this latest incident get the better of me. I did still continue onto my interview, but had a mini melt down when I got home afterwards.

One thing has been highlighted for me as the title of the blog says, and that is that this type of crime is purely opportunistic. But is is such a frightening thought to know that there are vultures out there - everywhere- waiting to take advantage and that one is not safe anywhere.

If you do read this blog, I would urge you to always be prepared, be on the alert, and to try as much as possible to avoid becoming a potential victim.

I would love to turn my vehicle into an armoured car, but failing that, I will now always make sure that I am as protected as possible, that I have enough fuel, and that my car is as serviced and as roadworthy as I can make it. No matter how long or short the trip.

I don't want to be caught short again and be vulnerable like this, and I would urge all of you to take the same kind of precautions. On my way to and from the interview, I couldn't help but notice just how many ordinary passenger cars like mine were stopped on the side of the highway for whatever reason. It is just not safe people and not worth risking one's life.

So now I am going to go away have a cup of tea and try to find my positivity and optimism again. They have kind of gone into hiding and I know its going to be a tough job to regain perspective.