Con artists reveal themselves
At least four people are believed to have been targeted by con artists in the Hathorn Street area recently, as part of a devious ploy to part pensioners with their money.
A mundane trip to the shop could become an instance of perverted crime.
At least four people are believed to have been targeted by con artists in the Hathorn Street area recently, as part of a devious ploy to part pensioners with their money.
SAPS officials have since confirmed sexual assault cases are under investigation.
Under condition of anonymity, one pensioner relayed his horror story, which occurred on April 15 after a trip to the dentist.
Following a procedure, the pensioner parked his vehicle at a local shop.
After unlocking the doors, which operate on a central locking system, the pensioner was shocked to see a woman enter his vehicle and immediately grab his crotch.
“She asked me if we want to go somewhere private and I said no! Then she pulled my pants down partially and said she knew the colour of my briefs.”
Despite his repeated appeals for the woman to leave his vehicle, the pensioner was mortified when she exposed her breasts and began crying rape.
“I was visibly shaken – I didn’t know what to do!”
Whether alerted by the screams or part of the con, two women approached the vehicle and advised the pensioner to pay a few hundred Rand’s recompense to the so-called rape victim.
The pensioner then realised it was an intricate scam.
“I asked who the woman was and she replied ‘I am the witness.’ Somehow she knew the woman in my car knew the colour of my briefs.”
When the pensioner exclaimed he had no money and exited the vehicle, the ‘witnesses’ promised to inform his wife of the alleged rape and agreed to go to SAPS to open a case.
By this time the ‘rape victim’ had taken his phone and money from the centre console.
Now surrounded by about 10 women, the pensioner was forced to pay R100 for the return of his phone only, immediately calling his friend and local Community Policing Forum member, Ally Hoosen to assist.
Mr Hoosen said the situation was dire at the time of his arrival.
“They were insisting the pensioner pay R2 000 for ‘what this man did’ to the alleged victim.”
At this point, owing to the unrest among the small crowd assembling, Mr Hoosen advised the pensioner to pay over a few hundred Rand to the con artist, before leaving to open a docket at the Newcastle SAPS.
While there, he heard about a few other cases of similar circumstance.
Mr Hoosen urged the community to be vigilant in the Draper Street/Hathorn Street area as this is the common location for this scam.
By Tuesday, another victim had been located.
Last week, this victim had agreed to give a female pedestrian a lift, and in the Hathorn Street area, she began to make lewd offers of the sexual kind.
He immediately stopped the vehicle.
However, the woman began placing her hands on his thighs and crotch, yet he was fortunate to be able to force her from the vehicle.
SAPS officials confirmed four cases are all under investigation.
