Innocent ‘not so innocent’ police say after arrest
Alleged thief poses as cleaner to dupe elderly
An alleged thief who has been in hiding has been arrested by the SAPS.
Innocent John Pretorius (51) was arrested on charges of theft on Wednesday.
It is alleged that the he stole valuable items from a 76-year-old pensioner, a resident at a old age home in Belfast in July last year.
Pretorius is said to have advertised himself as a cleaning contractor for the old age home, and thereby gaining access to the victim.
A case docket was registered, and an investigation ensued, but Pretorius evaded police until his arrest this week.
The investigation revealed that he could be somehow involved in several other, similar incidents of theft committed at various old age homes around including Middelburg, Howick and Paulpietersburg.
At this stage, Police cannot rule out his possible involvement in other criminal offences carried out in areas that have not been mentioned.
The suspect has already appeared at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the case was postponed to February 24.
Pretorius will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
