Police in Ga-Rankuwa areas have stepped up their search for three elusive alleged fake prophets who is operating in the township. According to police, the “prophets” have been robbing residents and students in the area. Ga-Rankuwa police spokesperson Warrant Officer Matthews Nkoadi, said there are about three men – who pretend to be prophets – and were regularly terrorising students around Tshwane University of Technology’s Ga-Rankuwa campus.
“We have received reports that there are two to three males who are driving around Zone 2, pretending to be prophets, then robbing the unsuspecting victims. They normally target residents and students’ cell phones, laptops and money,” he said. Nkoadi said their modus operandi has always been to approach people on the street and start prophesying about their problems. They eventually convince them to visit the bank and check their money.
“In all reported cases the victims were lured to the suspects’ places of residence where they were forced to bring money or bank cards, then being escorted to the bank to withdraw cash. In a recent case, a woman was walking on the street and one of the suspects pretended to show her direction of where she was going. He later started to prophesy to her about her family background. He convinced the victim somehow and drove her to her residence, forced her to bring all her money, claiming to pray for it,” said Nkoadi.
Nkoadi added that the men then requested her to place it inside the car and tell her to go fetch water, but when she returned both men and the car were gone with her cell phone and money.
“We are appealing to residents to be vigilant of these fake prophets as they are shrewd. Residents must not seek or take any help from strangers who want to lure information from victims or go to their places of residence,” he said. He added that all suspicious actions and criminal activities should be reported to the police Crime Stop number 0860010111.
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Read: Beware of fake prophets
