Security Message for U.S. Citizens No. 10: Incidents of Armed Robbery
Two armed robberies occurred on March 6th and 8th in Maadi. In the first, three young boys were reportedly forcibly placed in a vehicle by a group of men on Road 213. The men had lured the boys to the vehicle by asking for directions. The incident occurred between Victoria Square and the Cairo American College (CAC) Kiosk at 8:00 p.m. The boys reported that they were driven outside of Maadi and robbed of cash and mobile phones, but left unharmed with enough money to make their way back to Maadi. The boys provided a description of the vehicle and individuals to the police. This incident illustrates the need to elevate vigilance particularly in the evening hours while walking. Children should be reminded that they should never respond to strangers’ request for assistance or to approach the vehicle of someone they do not know.
The second incident occurred on Road 209 outside the wall of the Cairo American College (CAC). An individual stopped the vehicle he was driving and brandished a weapon toward a female with two small children and a dog. The woman dropped her hand bag and fled as the perpetrator fetched the handbag up and drove away. The woman reported the incident to the police, who are conducting an investigation. The U.S. citizen community should exercise caution when walking, particularly at night, refrain from walking alone when possible, and be cognizant that items such as purses, backpacks, and mobile phones may be targets of robbers. Families should discuss these incidents with older school age children. In this situation, the victim responded correctly by dropping the handbag and fleeing the area.
As a matter of general practice, U.S. citizens should avoid areas where large gatherings may occur. Even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. U.S. citizens in Egypt are urged to monitor local news reports and to plan their activities accordingly.
Mar102014