Bogus maintenance worker steals from Joburg company

Douglasdale police spokesperson Warrant Officer Balan Muthan said the complainant was at her workplace in the Kya Sands Business Park, Johannesburg when a man showed up and said he was from a computer company, Fourways Review reported.

The complainant said the man was wearing the uniform of a well-known telecommunications company.

The man allegedly told the complainant that he needed to do upgrades on the company’s computer system on Thursday.

It was believed that the complainant left the office while the man was working on computers. When she returned, another staff member informed her that telephones were not working and the “maintenance man” had left.

On closer inspection, the complainant realised that a digital handset and public address system had been stolen.

The suspect made off with items valued at R50 900.

Muthan said this incident should be a warning to all businesses to not allow individuals into their properties without making sure they are from legitimate companies first.

Investigations are ongoing.

Last month, a man was sought by police after he continuously defrauded Johannesburg businesses and residents by impersonating an environmental health practitioner.

The man, identified as John Duran targets food premises, conducting inspections under the pretence of being a city council health inspector.

Duran, who allegedly wears a name-tag with the words “health inspector”, claims he was relocated from Durban to work for the city council due to staff shortages, and leaves behind a copy of an ID bearing the name John Duran.

He is believed to be currently operating in the Sandton and Randburg areas.

– Caxton News Service