Tourist robbed by hooded thieves at Upper Copolia

Two groups of tourists were last Thursday set upon by two men within a few minutes of each other whilst sightseeing at Upper Copolia. Cameras and other valuables were stolen.

A party of three Swiss couples, one of whom had previously lived in Seychelles, were admiring the panoramic views of Victoria and the islands around the St Anne marine park when one lady, who had wandered some distance away from the others for a few photos, was set upon by two masked men, who emerged from the bushes. According to the victim, one of the assailants carried a hunting knife and attempted to cut the strap of her camera. She let out a yell which immediately brought her companions running to her aid, whereupon both men fled downhill.

The group, who was staying at Anse La Mouche, then kept together during the rest of their sightseeing expedition. On the way back they met two German ladies from a Beau Vallon hotel who told them that they too had just been robbed. One of them was relieved of her camera and wallet which contained cash and some credit cards.  Their description of the assailants (one man being hooded and the other wearing a hat which shielded his face) matched that of the two men who had tried to rob the Swiss lady barely half an hour earlier.

The tourists reported their misadventures to the Mont Fleuri police station. They were shown a set of photographs of known criminals, but could not identify their attackers.

Such incidents which are getting increasingly frequent only serve to tarnish the image of Seychelles as a safe tourist destination. Unsuspecting tourists often fall prey to thieves who lurk in secluded spots. These include mountain trails and beaches, such as Anse Royale, where granite boulders and vegetation often provide ideal cover for the wrongdoers.