Forest Hills theft victim cautions fellow residents
A Forest Hills resident says retired locals and the elderly should be wary after a valuable gold coin was stolen from him by a suspect posing as a customer for it.
THE police have confirmed that the Hillcrest SAPS have opened a case of theft after valuable goods were allegedly stolen from a Forest Hills family recently.
KZN SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the alleged theft was carried out “by a man who came to the victim’s residence on 20 February 2026 to buy gold coins”.
Netshiunda added that the matter is under investigation.
Joseph Moors, who reported the alleged theft at the Hillcrest SAPS, said that he opened a case at the station after a gold Kruger coin, which he said is worth R80 000, and two gold earrings, were stolen from his house.
Moors urged local residents to be cautious, especially the elderly, “of this con man in the area and the dangers associated with letting strangers into your home”.
Moors said this word of caution comes after the theft at his house, which he alleged was carried out by a suspect who had posed as a customer for the goods he sells, which include collectibles such as gold coins.
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According to Moors, the suspect had allegedly selected the items he expressed an interest in purchasing, before asking to make use of the remote gate to allow his wife to drive in, as she had the money which she had gone to withdraw at a nearby mall.
“I gave him the remote for the gate so he could let his wife in. After a few minutes when he did not return, my wife asked me where the gold coin was and I checked, to find it was gone, along with the earrings and remote. My wife and I ran down the driveway and checked the surrounding area but he was nowhere to be seen. I tried calling his cellphone and it went straight to voicemail,” said Moors.
Moors said two acquaintances, one a Kloof resident, shared similar ordeals with him.
The police could not confirm whether a suspected con artist is being sought for operating in these areas and whether such incidents are widespread.
Moors urged residents, especially the elderly and retired, to always be cautious of criminals like the one who allegedly stole from him.
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