Cops look for stolen phone, find false money
Four foreign nationals were arrested after the police had found counterfeit notes in their possession.
Lydenburg police members were on patrol last Thursday at 13:00 when they were stopped by a woman (24) who requested them to help stop a vehicle used by suspects who had allegedly stolen her cell phone in Ext 6, Mashishing.
The victim alleged two women had stolen her phone when they distracted her by talking about hair products at a tuck shop earlier that day. Afterwards, she wanted to phone her friends and noticed her phone was gone. The victim went back to the tuck shop and the owner told her the women had driven away in a white car with a GP number plate.
She happened to see the two women when she and a friend went to block her phone number at the MTN in Voortrekker Street. Upon arrival at the police station, the suspects and the vehicle were searched. The stolen cell phone and some counterfeit money was found hidden in the vehicle. All four suspects are from Gauteng, originally from Zimbabwe. They did not have passports or a fixed address. Angel Mncube (25), Mbali Dlamini (32), Mbonisi Sibanda (36) and Evan Ndlovu (40) appeared in the Mashishing Magistrate’s Court on Friday August 13. They were charged with contravening the Immigration Act and theft.
“We have several cases reported in Lydenburg in which the same modus operandi was used. The investigation is pending,” said Capt Kaizer Moela, the police spokesperson. If a member of the public has more information about similar complaints, contact Det WO Solly Mlangeni on 082 772 1693.
