AN EAST London fast food franchisee fears a criminal syndicate is targeting his pizza delivery drivers following an attack on one in Amalinda this week.
Dave de Coning, who owns the Debonairs in Vincent and along the Esplanade, said a driver was shot in the leg while making a delivery in Amalinda at about 8pm on Wednesday. Another driver was held at knife point in the same suburb two weeks ago and robbed of money and pizza.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed the latest attack near CTM. “The victim was shot. Three suspects fled with money and pizza.
“The delivery driver was rushed to Frere Hospital and later discharged.”
Another Mr Delivery driver was stabbed and robbed while delivering in Braelyn two weeks ago.
The driver, Deon Venter, was left with 20 stitches above and below his right eye following the attack.
Venter yesterday said he was still traumatised by the incident.
“It was around 7pm when I had stopped to call the customer when three men surrounded me. Before I knew it I was under attack, I was stabbed in the eye. They took both my cellphones,” said Venter.
The owner of Mr Delivery, Gavin Turner, confirmed the incident.
Turner said two of his delivery men had been attacked this year.
“This is bad for business. Because of the attacks we have no options but to stop delivering in certain areas during the evening,” said Turner.
Turner and De Coning said parts of Southernwood were no go areas, adding they had also stopped delivering to certain areas of Quigney.
“Delivering to these areas at night is just not worth it,” he said, adding that criminals lured the drivers to these areas by posing as customers.
“Once the delivery guy gets to the said address and calls the customer the suspects pounce on the driver and take all their belongings.”
De Coning said they called the number after the attack but got no response. “This is psychologically affecting our delivery guys who are traumatised by the shooting.”
Mbi said police could not confirm if a syndicate was targeting delivery drivers but said police were investigating similar incidents.
“We cannot say it is a syndicate yet although in Cambridge we are investigating two similar cases. In the first instance the delivery driver was robbed at gun point. No suspects have been arrested yet but we are investigating,” Mbi said.
Delivery drivers under attack
Dave de Coning, who owns the Debonairs in Vincent and along the Esplanade, said a driver was shot in the leg while making a delivery in Amalinda at about 8pm on Wednesday. Another driver was held at knife point in the same suburb two weeks ago and robbed of money and pizza.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed the latest attack near CTM. “The victim was shot. Three suspects fled with money and pizza.
“The delivery driver was rushed to Frere Hospital and later discharged.”
Another Mr Delivery driver was stabbed and robbed while delivering in Braelyn two weeks ago.
The driver, Deon Venter, was left with 20 stitches above and below his right eye following the attack.
Venter yesterday said he was still traumatised by the incident.
“It was around 7pm when I had stopped to call the customer when three men surrounded me. Before I knew it I was under attack, I was stabbed in the eye. They took both my cellphones,” said Venter.
The owner of Mr Delivery, Gavin Turner, confirmed the incident.
Turner said two of his delivery men had been attacked this year.
“This is bad for business. Because of the attacks we have no options but to stop delivering in certain areas during the evening,” said Turner.
Turner and De Coning said parts of Southernwood were no go areas, adding they had also stopped delivering to certain areas of Quigney.
“Delivering to these areas at night is just not worth it,” he said, adding that criminals lured the drivers to these areas by posing as customers.
“Once the delivery guy gets to the said address and calls the customer the suspects pounce on the driver and take all their belongings.”
De Coning said they called the number after the attack but got no response. “This is psychologically affecting our delivery guys who are traumatised by the shooting.”
Mbi said police could not confirm if a syndicate was targeting delivery drivers but said police were investigating similar incidents.
“We cannot say it is a syndicate yet although in Cambridge we are investigating two similar cases. In the first instance the delivery driver was robbed at gun point. No suspects have been arrested yet but we are investigating,” Mbi said.
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