MALALANE – Community members are cautioned against buying merchandise from vendors without checking if they have a license or receipt for the goods, after goods were confiscated from two males at the Choppies Shopping Centre last Friday.
Two men were selling Mr Price goods from the back of their vehicle and were confronted by Hi-Tech Security Onderberg personnel, who found their actions suspicious.
Despite failing to produce proper receipts for the goods in their possession, along with catalogues of the products, the suspects still denied any wrongdoing when questioned by the police.
They were taken to the Malelane Police Station for questioning and later released. The merchandise was confiscated until such time the suspects can provide police with proper receipts for the goods.
According to the Second-Hand Goods Act (Act No 6 of 2009), any person who buys stolen goods are considered just as guilty as the seller and will receive a harsher sentences.
Community members are cautioned to check whether the vendor they want to buy from is registered with the Nkomazi Local Municipality.
If the transaction seems suspicious, request to see a receipt for the good purchased or report the vendor to the police.
Consumers can also visit stolengoods.co.za, a South African database of property reported stolen, to check if the goods they bought are stolen. It holds millions of serial numbers of stolen goods at the SAPS and associated agencies and can accessed for free by citizens and the police.
