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Gauteng police have arrested four men who they said used a dating app to target members of the LGBTQIAi+ community, kidnapping and robbing people.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe, said the suspects were arrested at a restaurant in Parktown on Sunday.
She said the suspects used a dating app designed for this community to target and lure victims to secluded places, where they are robbed.
“On 12 February 2023, a 26-year-old man who had been chatting to one of the suspects was lured to an area where he was hijacked, kidnapped, and robbed of his personal belongings including bank cards,” she said.
Mathe said the suspects made several purchases using the stolen bank cards.
“As soon as the matter was reported to the Mondeor Police Station, the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team operationalised information and swooped in on the four men who were meeting at the restaurant on the same day of the kidnapping,” she said.
Mathe said they were found in the possession of the victim’s belongings including bank cards, a wallet, a bag, and a cell phone.
She said the four have already appeared in court on charges of hijacking, kidnapping, and extortion.
“The victim’s hijacked vehicle, a Mercedes C180 has not been recovered and the search continues for the vehicle. The victim was rescued and has since been reunited with his family,” she said.
