Cape Town - Police recovered jewellery including a R40 000 diamond ring when they arrested three men who had allegedly robbed beach walkers near Sunrise Circle at knifepoint on Wednesday.
The suspects, aged 16, 18 and 23, all residents of Vrygrond, were found with a stolen cellphone, cash and jewellery, and were to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of robbery.
Captain Stephen Knapp, Muizenberg police spokesman, said the three victims from Bergvliet had been walking on the beach around 3.30pm when they were robbed.
They immediately reported it to the police who made a swift arrest.
The robbery was one of a spate of incidents that have occurred in recent days with residents complaining perpetrators hide in the dunes waiting for victims.
The Cape Argus understands the three robbery suspects had been coming from the dunes.
A French couple was mugged by three men at the beach huts near Zandvlei mouth. Witnesses reported on social media that one of the muggers, who had a long knife, grabbed a camera and cellphone from the woman, but her male companion ran after the robber and retrieved the items.
There were also reports of two elderly women being attacked on the beach by two young men who used the end of a beach brolly stick as a weapon, also on Wednesday. Two other beachgoers rushed to help them and the perpetrators fled into the dunes.
Late last month, a man described being mugged on the beach beyond Sunrise Circle by two young men “waving a switchblade”.
He posted on Facebook that rather than be attacked, he held his cellphone up in the air.
“They came up to me and one held a knife at me, while the other rifled through my pockets for a non-existent wallet. They ran back through the dunes towards Capricorn Business Park after mugging me.”
His biggest concern was that “our beautiful beach is now easy pickings for whoever wants to get a free cellphone or cash”.
Several residents have suggested a sting operation by walkers to try to flush the perpetrators out of the dunes, complaining law enforcement officers were usually found sitting in the office under the promenade.
The City of Cape Town said police had increased patrols in the area, in addition to its own efforts.
“The City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement officers conduct regular patrols in the area on motorcycle and on foot to maintain visibility and keep the area safe,” city spokeswoman Priya Reddy said.
“However, the officers cannot be in the area at all times and sometimes muggers take the opportunity to rob people who wander down from the Lifesaving Club towards the Strandfontein end of the beach. This section is fairly quiet and is therefore prone to opportunistic muggings.”
Kevin Rack of the Marine Estate neighbourhood watch said while people couldn’t take the law into their own hands, it would be a good idea for the community to get together and walk through the dune area from one side to the other.
People were living in tunnels in the dunes, and they made fires which could be seen from the beach on the monthly Muizenberg Meander, held at full moon.
Reddy said law enforcement was aware of a couple who had been living in the dunes for the past few weeks.
“They have been requested to move on a number of occasions, but continue to return and erect little shelters. At this stage, there is no link between the couple and any mugging incidents.”
Meanwhile, police have warned people not to walk alone on the beach.
Cape Argus