A 46-year-old injured Brits resident managed to crawl to a road for help after being hijacked, tied up and assaulted near Brits on Thursday.

André Lubbe pulled off the new Letlhabile road near Brits when his cellphone rang around 14:15. While on his phone, five men appeared and pulled open the door. One was armed with a knife. According to police spokesperson, Maria Nkabinde, Lubbe was repeatedly struck in the face with a bottle and then pulled from the car. He was tied up, his head covered and forced into the back of his vehicle, after which he was driven to bushes.

According to Lubbe’s wife, Kate, he was forced to open the bank application on his phone and the robbers transferred money. They left him injured and tied-up in the bushes before fleeing with his cellphone, bank card and cash.

The ordeal lasted several hours. Lubbe finally managed to crawl to the road and a taxi driver stopped to help him around 21:00. In the meantime his family was desperately looking for him.

“We were contacted by the taxi driver at 21:10 and rushed to the scene. We took André to the hospital,” Kate said.

He has sustained several injuries to his face. Lubbe’s car, a white Hyundai Accent, is still missing, and no arrests have been made.

“Anyone with information that might lead to the apprehension of the suspects can contact the investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Charmaine Jenner of Brits Detectives on 082 460 6581 or contact Crime Stop Line on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via MySAPS application,” Nkabinde said.