Beware of town’s pickpockets
Business owners are worried for their customers' safety.
Various business owners have contacted the News, complaining about persistent pickpockets in the central business district.
The News decided to investigate.
“This is an ongoing problem in Human Street. Pickpockets and criminals breaking into cars (often of the same gang) target unsuspecting members of the public daily. These thugs then disappears into the crowd by going into a local pub or just standing in the street among a group of people,” one business owner said.
Another business owner told the News of an incident in which one of his customers were robbed as soon as he walked out of the shop.
“We are losing a lot of business,” he said.
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“On several occasions we have asked police for assistance, but when a police vehicle approaches them, they disappear into the crowd.
“It has been noted that certain police members seem to know these people very well as they talk and even shake hands with them,” he added.
A car guard the News spoke to, pointed out some of the alleged pickpockets in the street.
He said they operate so fast and disappear easily.
Sergeant Tshepiso Mashale, a police spokesperson told the News arrests have been made for common robbery in town last week.
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