I NEED to tell you what happened to me today (Monday, 10 June) while at the St John’s Centre.
As I entered the store to start my shopping, I was approached by a young, well-spoken man who is about about 35 years old. He looked at me, then suddenly put his hand out to shake mine asking if I remembered him.
He claimed his mother once worked for me when he was a youngster and that I probably wouldn’t remember him. He asked me if I still lived in Pinetown, but I indicated Northdene. He went on to say that he lives that way and asked if I could give him a lift when I left.
I wasn’t too keen on that idea, so responded that I wouldn’t be going straight home as I had an appointment in New Germany. He said ‘that’s fine’ he would go that way too. He said he needed to do some shopping and would wait for me at the front of the store and walked off.
ALSO READ: This behaviour is total rubbish
I carried on doing what I had to do and, as I walked around, it crossed my mind that it was a bit strange wanting a lift in one direction then also happy to go in a completely different direction.
He was waiting for me to finish paying for my goods then offered to help take it to my car. At this point, I looked at him and said I didn’t need his help and I couldn’t give him a lift and I wouldn’t give rides to strangers. He said ‘okay’ and I thought that was the end of it.
As I climbed into the car, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw him sitting by the bottle store entrance. I locked myself in and drove out. As I rounded the corner, he was standing next to a truck blocking my way. He then came alongside the passenger side and attempted to open the door.
I pulled out and around the truck and onto the main road. Be careful out there.
Possible victim
Northdene (Letter edited)
The Checkers supermarket chain responds:
We’d like to thank the customer for bringing his concerns to our attention. Customer safety and security is of utmost importance to us and we are committed to do whatever is in our power to safeguard our customers and to follow up on reported complaints.
Subsequent to the matter being reported to our Checkers St John’s store on the day following the incident, our investigation into the activities on Monday afternoon, 10 June, shows camera footage of the person in question approaching the passenger side of the customer’s vehicle as it is leaving the parking area, seemingly begging. Unfortunately, available camera footage doesn’t show any other interaction between the parties.
A man who was escorted out of the centre by security guards on 12 June after begging from customers inside the Checkers store, was subsequently identified as the same person who approached the customer.
We urge the customer to approach the local SAPS to further investigate the matter. We will gladly give our full cooperation to assist with such investigation and advise customers to be vigilant and alert of their surroundings at all times.
Regrettably, contact details weren’t provided when the customer reported the matter to the store.
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