POLOKWANE – Pedestrians on the streets of the CBD, specifically Hans van Rensburg Street, are warned to be on the lookout for pickpockets robbing people of their belongings.
Sarah Bolala and her son Wilson, are recent victims of such a crime.
Bolala and her son were shopping in the CBD on Monday 18 July, when they were asked for directions by a man in Hans van Rensburg Street.
“The man said he was new in town and was looking for the police station. He didn’t understand my directions so we decided to take a walk with him down Schoeman Street.
“When we turned the corner heading towards Schoeman Street, the man pulled out a knife and demanded we give him money,” Bolala told Review.
She said two men joined the first man and demanded her cell phone and her grocery bags. They took everything she had and simply walked away.
“We were helpless; we couldn’t take on three men with a weapon. By the time we reported the matter to the police, the men had disappeared,” she explained.
The warning comes from the Polokwane Police after the reports from Bolala and at least four other women who all say they were robbed in the same area.
The man, who appears to be in his 30’s, is said to bump into his victims and while he tells a long-winded story, he touches the victim on the arm or touches their belongings, stealing their cell phones while their attention is diverted by his story.
The victims only realise their belongings are missing long after the incident.
Polokwane Police Spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala says it is difficult to stop a pickpocket unless he has been caught red-handed. He says people should be aware of their surroundings at all times, and hide their valuable items, or leave them at work or at home.
“Prevention is always better than cure and we urge people, especially women, not to use their cell phones in public places as this is how pickpockets find their targets,” explained Phala.
He goes on to say criminals have changed their approach from using violence to playing the role of the victim to lure unsuspecting people like Bolala to take pity on them.
“Avoid people who want to have a conversation with you if you do not know them; chances are these people are marking you as a target,” Phala advised.
He emphasised the importance of reporting all criminal incidents, no matter how small, as soon as possible.
“Anything you can tell the police will be beneficial. If Bolala and the four other victims did not report their cases, we would not have known there was a new syndicate forming and we would not be able to warn the community to be on high alert,” he concluded.
