We Just Robbed your Husband

 

An interesting news article

'We just robbed your husband'

Wilhelm de Swardt

 

Pretoria - Two armed men called a victim's wife and friends from his cellphone and bragged about their robbery.

 After robbing Archie Holtzhausen and his son Wouter, 17, of their mountain bikes and cellphones in Centurion, they called his wife on his cellphone. "We've just robbed your white motherfucker husband and son of their mountain bikes," one of the robbers apparently bragged to Albie Holtzhausen.  The two robbers also called Holtzhausen's friends and in good Afrikaans bragged about their successful robbery.  Holtzhausen said he and Wouter were cycling on an open field outside Centurion about 13:00 on Monday. The trouble started when they turned back towards Blue Valley Golf Estate. "We noticed the two men next to the road, but thought nothing of it. One of them had a potato bag with him. "The next moment, the man suddenly took out an AK-47 rifle from the potato bag and shouted at us: 'Get off, get off your bicycles!," said Holtzhausen.  "We were hardly off our bikes when the robber put the AK-47 against my head, while the other one put a knife to Wouter's throat."  Wouter said he had pepper spray with him. "I was on the verge of using it, but then noticed the gun to my father's head and realised it would be a mistake. "They would've killed him," said Wouter. "When the robbers saw the pepper spray, they nearly went berserk. "The ordered us to lie facedown on the ground. They wanted us to remove our helmets and cycling shoes without using our hands. "One of the robbers stood on my back and then ripped off my shoes," said Wouter. "I started praying out loud. I believe it must've helped, because the robbers calmed down a bit. "Then they suddenly said: 'Get up and go'. "According to Holtzhausen, he firmly believed they would be shot in the back while running away. "I just couldn't run. The spirit was willing, but the body unable. I kept stumbling. It must have been pure fear."

My own comments

Targeting cyclists can be very rewarding as these kinds of bikes are extremely expensive.  However often these bikejackers miss out on a large bonus i.e. the cyclists gear and clothes. 
What was impressive in this case is that they not only helped themselves to the bikes but also to the guys cycling shoes and helmets which are also very expensive. 

Though, I think these guys sold themselves a bit short.  Cycling shorts and vests are also extremely expense.

This hold up took place in a quite area, they would have had more than enough time to liberate both father and son of their shorts and vests.

Also, ordering father and son to just walk away could have been dealt with better.  Ideally they should have tied them up, they would then have had plenty of time to make their escape.