Police in Durban have warned locals to be wary of a crime trend where people are hugged and mugged by criminals pretending to be their friends.

At a crime imbizo held at Virginia Airport last week, police raised the issue, dubbing the criminals involved as the ‘hugging gang’, Northglen News reports.

The premise is simple: the suspects involved pretend to know you and act overtly friendly, and then move in to hug you while stealing either a cellphone or other valuables from your pockets.

Captain Tracy Mey, commander of the Crime Information Management and Analysis Centre (CIMAC), addressed residents at the meeting and explained the modus operandi of unwanted hugs being used as distractions.

While three people had been arrested recently in connection with this type of crime, they urged residents to be wary, especially closer to the festive season.

“We urge residents to be wary of this type of crime and not allow people you don’t know to hug you. If you feel unsafe, contact security or call the police. We have recorded cases of this nature before, and the best advice we can give is to be vigilant at all times,” explained Durban North SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Nonhlanhla Shozi.

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