GoPro captures gunpoint mountain bike robbery in Somerset West

I see there's quite a heated discussion going on about could've / should've / would've.

 

Submitting

From my point of view - Malcolm's encounter is a textbook case of what to do if you're untrained / unequipped for multiple attackers with or without weapons. For the untrained, playing the odds that they are robbers without violent intent is the best hope you've got.

 

Fleeing

Another option would be to effect an escape. The odds you're playing with are effective and accurate firing (or just dumb luck) from at least one armed aggressor as well as possible blocker elements (human or otherwise) on likely escape routes. With hindsight, we can see the main aggressor has poor firearm handling skills but this can't be known on initial contact. For me, this would have been a poor choice but I also recognise that the "flight" urge might prove overwhelming for individuals where mental preparedness is not part of a daily regime.

 

Fighting

Lastly, one has the option to provide resistance. Resistance only ever becomes an option when training is part of a daily (or at the very, very least bi-weekly) schedule. By training, I do NOT mean the following:

• Aerobics
  
• Iron Man
  
• Judo Chops
  
• IPSC / ITA (and to lesser extent IDPA) club shoots.
  
• Mixed Martial Arts
  

Thinking that any of the abovementioned will serve you well in a violent, aggresive, armed conflict will only result in Rambo ego's being nurtured. Don't get me wrong, I think they're awesome as a sport, but not as a method of surviving fights with armed aggressors.

 

Legal Aspects

Roneblack46 is spot on when it comes to using legal force. The pointing of the firearm by the main aggressor justifies lethal force (even if that firearm was a replica). Drawing and firing your firearm with lethal intent in Malcom's situation falls inside the remit of justifiable, common-man self defense as prescribed by law.

 

Lethal force, however, is on a case-by-case basis - Shooting someone in the back as they're running away is a criminal offence under South African law (seeing as the attack would be seen as over).

 

The legal use of lethal force is covered in one's competency certificate prior to a firearm license application and every firearm owner should be well-versed in it (yes, even Oscar).

 

Personally Speaking

The use of lethal force, or the other alternatives (Submitting / Fleeing), are best determined before a situation even presents itself.

 

Will you give up your belongings? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

Will you provide resistance / use lethal force? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

 

Far be it from me to prescribe what you should have done in Malcom's situation - as only you determine your skills level, mental preparedness and downright level of comfort.

 

I can only speak for myself when I say that I would have fought tooth and nail, but only because:

• I train every day (in Somerset West of all places!) for violent encounters where knives, pangas, handguns and rifles are used;
  
• I'm confident in my abilities to take on multiple aggressors;
  
• I'm well trained in the use of various firearms under arduous, stress-induced conditions;
  
• I'm aware (as much as possible) of my environment; and finally
  
• Because I've made the decision to engage long before the situation presents itself
  

My sentiments exactly. I am glad there are those like us out there. Ride safe out there.

My sentiments exactly. I am glad there are those like us out there. Ride safe out there.

mmmmmm....ok.

i hope they catch all FOUR of them. at 0:57, there's clearly some one in a hoodie sporting a very long stick parked off along the trail the gunman sent the rider along. He is either a perp, or the perfect witness.

Maybe he would have knocked the rider off if he'd tried to escape after seeing the first one running up in a hurry. Looks like they weren't gonna let anyone get away irrespective of which route they were riding. Well done to the victim for staying calm and making sure the perp was aware that he was not going to try anything.

Yeah, we need to get all krav maga on their asses

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkEvEyNbN4

All good ,but the point I am trying to make.

I can teach someone a specific take-down for an hour three times a week, when they are in the heat of the moment, the chances of them doing it successfully is way down.

I appreciate what all these schools do and people going to these classes, where I foresee a problem is that unless you train the stuff on a daily basis (with a not so willing partner) it becomes second nature.

It will be at that moment that one can try and play a bit of Chuck and take them out, saying that ,even a well trained individual that is unarmed does not really stand the best chance when he is up against 4 drugged up and hungry tik heads.

Looking at the clip again and again, I firmly believe the cyclist acted and responded immensely well and quite perfectly.

On our last session with the late great Eddie Dorey last year, he made it very clear that once you have defended yourself and have a chance to get away and run, or simply stay calm to avoid any conflict, you have done really well for yourself

My sentiments exactly. I am glad there are those like us out there. Ride safe out there.

Malcolm Fox is a hero; for his presence of mind during this situation. Staying calm during a potentially violent attack. His actions in this situation needs no further gung-ho analysis.

The scumbag is behind bars because of Malcolm Fox, because he stayed calm the rest of you down south can ride in peace!

I salute you SIR!

Good points colourblind, even if you do ride armed, you must be trained in self defence, and practice. Worst case scenario is you fumble and end up dead, and another firearm ends up in the hands of criminals.

Could pepper spray helped? not against a gun pointed at you I guess.

Malcolm Fox is a hero; for his presence of mind during this situation. Staying calm during a potentially violent attack. His actions in this situation needs no further gung-ho analysis.

 

The scumbag is behind bars because of Malcolm Fox, because he stayed calm the rest of you down south can ride in peace!

 

I salute you SIR!

I would feel safer on the trails with guys like Malcolm, than armed cyclists who have been mentally enacting confrontational situations and preparing themselves to "engage multiple perps" whether or not their belief in their abilities is real or not.

That is FUBAR just waiting to happen.

I would feel safer on the trails with guys like Malcolm, than armed cyclists who have been mentally enacting confrontational situations and preparing themselves to "engage multiple perps" whether or not their belief in their abilities is real or not.

 

That is FUBAR just waiting to happen.

Agreed...If someone is packing he/she can go and ride by themselves...I don't care what training he/she has, what army they served in or experience they have. They will be putting my life in danger...no thanks

According to News24.... "Western Cape police spokesman Andre Traut has confirmed all three of the men have been arrested and charged with robbery."

According to News24.... "Western Cape police spokesman Andre Traut has confirmed all three of the men have been arrested and charged with robbery."

And I have no doubt that possession of an unlicensed firearm will be added to the charge sheet in time. They are not going anywhere soon.

I have had the privilege of training with the Seals and working alongside them in Africa. I will leave it at that.

beyond that, next weekend i'm off to a bachelors that involves mountain biking then shooting AK47s in a range.

Will report back about the possible combinations.

Shoulda

Coulda

Woulda

Lots of theories here.

Things are different when the **** actually hits the fan

Glad he is okay.

Father.brother.son.fellow rider.

Bike jackers caught on helmet camera

June 5 2014 at 07:43am

By Jonathan Ancer

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/copy-of-ct-mountain-bike-mugging-5-42385390-1.1698866!/image/1851530986.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/1851530986.jpg

YOUTUBE

Three men were caught on candid camera after they allegedly robbed a mountain biker at gunpoint in Somerset West.

Related Stories

• VIDEO: Bike jackers caught on camera
  

Cape Town - Malcolm Fox waited for the shot.

“I know it’s a cliché,” the 36-year-old father of two told the Cape Times on Wednesday, “but in that moment I wondered if I was about to become another statistic; if my two boys would grow up without a father.”

Fox, a victim of a bike-jacking on Saturday, captured the dramatic 59-second sequence of the armed robbery on his GoPro, which was mounted on his helmet.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that the footage led to the arrest of three suspects.

The recording shows Fox riding his bike across railway lines at Ongegund in Somerset West. It was the last kilometre of his ride when a gunman in a woollen hat ran towards him.

Fox stopped riding and dismounted. A silhouette of the rider showed him lifting his hands in surrender.

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/iol-bike-mugging-3-42385389-1.1698869!/image/4262500322.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/4262500322.jpg

YOUTUBE

“Gimme your cellphone,” the gunman ordered, walking towards Fox and cocking his gun.

He grabbed Fox’s sunglasses and a pouch, containing his cellphone and keys, hanging around his neck. Fox didn’t resist.

“What else have you got? What else have you got?”

“Nothing.”

A second suspect in a cap approached and took the bike, and a third assailant, armed with a knife, frisked Fox.

The gunman peered into the camera. “He didn’t know what it was,” said Fox, “but the footage is so clear I’d hate to think he will get away with it.”

Western Cape police spokes-man Lieutenant Colonel André Traut said the footage led them to the three suspects – all aged 22. “The first suspect was arrested on Sunday at his residence in Sir Lowry’s Pass and a Luger firearm was seized. The same day another suspect was arrested, also in Sir Lowry’s Pass. The third suspect was arrested on Monday.”

The stolen cellphone and mountain bike were recovered.

The suspects appeared in court on Tuesday and will remain in custody until they return to court later this month.

Fox, a project manager at Virgin Active’s head office in Claremont, had left Ongegund vineyard an hour and a half earlier to ride the yellow 17km route. It was windy and he was riding alone.

He missed the signage and “found myself in an area where you probably don’t want to be”.

According to Johan Kriegler, the trail co-ordinator, Fox missed the sign and wandered about 400m to 800m off the trail.

“He’s the first person I’ve heard of who missed the sign. In the last two years two other cyclists have had their bikes stolen but this is the first incident where a gun has been used,” he said.

Kriegler said he was negotiating with land owners to re-route some of the trails to avoid”hot spots” and move to safer and more open areas.

“Unfortunately, riders are soft targets. Thieves are even bumping road cyclists off their bikes to steal them. But they’ve caught these three guys so this is a good advert for GoPro.”

The 59-second footage went viral on Wednesday.

Fox said he posted the incident on YouTube because he believed he acted in the right way in the situation to avoid a violent outcome.

“I told myself to keep calm. I knew I shouldn’t make any sudden movements,” he said.

However, keyboard warriors in various corners of cyberspace debated the merits of his “keep calm” approach.

“Well done for not trying to be a hero,” said Josh Isaacs.

“What a pathetic comment,” responded Lloyd Gardner. “People need to stand up for themselves and stop being bloody victims. Until people start fighting back this crap will continue.”

It was Fox’s first ride back on the trails after a five-year break and, although he’s shaken, he will ride again – but this time not alone.

Cape Times

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/bike-jackers-caught-on-helmet-camera-1.1698870#.U5Ad7_oaKUk

.....all good and well speculating on what might, could, would and should have been done.

Looking at it from a different angle......and seeing that the youtube hits on the video is on the increase........what does this say about the situation in SA.........can the impact of such a video be measured on lets say the tourism industry (specifically in that part of the country)?

Nice exercise for all the expert HUB economists to do........what is the true cost of such an event........money going down a big black hole........

Glad you Ok mate.... thats my reason to get a GoPro now!

Nothing like getting busted in full HD, these okes will be the laughing stock in prison.

In the light of some other topics that gets edited because of sensitive racist issues, I am surprised that this video has not been deleted from the hub because it is racist

In the light of some other topics that gets edited because of sensitive racist issues, I am surprised that this video has not been deleted from the hub because it is racist

Why ? Become it shows a low life useless scum that I cannot even compare to a pig or monkey ?

“What a pathetic comment,” responded Lloyd Gardner. “People need to stand up for themselves and stop being bloody victims. Until people start fighting back this crap will continue.”

 

This guy is such a dong!

Since the GoPro worked so well....it can serve as a deterent for potential "funny monkeys"........pity is so small. This is me on my next ride............

This guy is such a dong!

Why ?

Why ? Become it shows a low life useless scum that I cannot even compare to a pig or monkey ?

I am with you here buddy! Just a comment in the light of the Argentinian Ironman athlete thread

This guy is such a dong!

A dong with a very valid point, go and ride the Irene area and see if they will take your bike off you so easily.

Hi,

not sure if this was mentioned, but the guy actually mentioned on the radio that he had veered off the proper route as he missed one of the sign boards. Irrespective...he had the right reaction. There was a thread a while back regarding self defence while on the bike...and this is a perfect example of how taking Krav Maga(or whatever classes) for 6 weeks would give you a false confidence in thinking you can defend yourself against any assailant....and then out pops another 2 assailants....and there goes whatever skills you think you had from couple of self defence classes( i however think everyone should learn some sort of self defence)! best defense is to get away! I've been shot before in a similar situation, however...I decided to wrestle with the assailant, instead of giving the assailant my cheap ass cellphone...a football career was ended.

Best defence is to create distance between you and the assailant...period!

Well done on staying calm Mr Malcolm!