GEORGE NEWS - In a harrowing incident that unfolded on Wednesday evening, 1 November, renowned former Carte Blanche presenter and investigative journalist Chantal Rutter-Dros managed to escape in what appeared to be an attempted hijacking with her journalistic instinct and quick thinking.
Rutter-Dros spotted three suspicious-looking men in a white Volkswagen Polo as she was leaving her ballet class at Harry Mann Square around 18:20. Her vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, was parked in front of Tony's R5 Store.
“The parking lot was empty when I came out. A suspicious man was sitting on the ground near one of the islands in the parking lot. The Polo was parked right next to my car and the men inside also looked suspicious. They were looking right at me, focused on me.”
She says she got into her car and took out her phone to buy airtime, but the men just kept watching her. When she wanted to pull out of the parking bay, the Polo blocked her in. She signalled them to move, but they rammed into her vehicle three times.
“I think they wanted me to get out of my car in an attempt to hijack me.”
Rutter-Dros says next she saw an elderly man running towards them shouting that he had just been robbed at the Nedbank ATM.
“The elderly man hit against the Polo with his hand, after which the suspects drove off. I chased after them down Hibernia Street, then Meade, but lost them near Woolworths. It became dangerous as they were driving recklessly and skipping red lights,” she said.
“I am sharing this story to ask people to be more alert and aware of their surroundings. People are desperate because of the high level of poverty and easily turn to crime.”
Rutter-Dros returned to the parking lot at Harry Mann Square and spoke to the elderly man. “He is a pensioner and they took most of his money.”
In a Facebook entry on Georgiete Staan Saam, the elderly man's daughter shared details of her father’s ordeal, saying an unknown man approached her dad at the ATM and afterwards robbed him of his money and card before he jumped into a white Polo with CY-registration.
She too warned residents to be more vigilant.
Sgt Chris Spies, the Southern Cape police spokesperson, said George Detectives are investigating the circumstances which led to an intimidation case.
“It is alleged that the victim was inside her vehicle in a parking area at York Street, George on Wednesday, 1 November when a Volkswagen Polo blocked her from leaving the parking bay. The vehicle bumped her Toyota Fortuner three times and sped off. She followed the vehicle which drove out of the central business district and later reported the matter to the police.”
The matter is still under investigation.
No arrests have been made.
"Allegations pertaining to an alleged incident involving another man was brought to the attention of police. However, no criminal case was opened in this regard," Spies said.
Rutter-Dros spotted three suspicious-looking men in a white Volkswagen Polo as she was leaving her ballet class at Harry Mann Square around 18:20. Her vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, was parked in front of Tony's R5 Store.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
