Businesses lose out because of chocolate theft
Filling station owner worries about shoplifting on his premises.
SECUNDA – It is possible to buy a Top Deck chocolate with a retail price of about R12 for R5 at the local taxi ranks.
The Echo and the Ridge Times saw a man selling various types of chocolates at the cheap price and commuters were buying them on 11 February at the Secunda Taxi Rank.
Some even joked that it was a “special Valentine’s gift” which they will give to their partners.
A taxi marshal said the illegal trade takes place throughout the day until about 7.30pm.
“The people who are mainly doing this illegal activity are from the suburbs and from different race groups.
“Some even take orders.
“These are not expired chocolates.”
A filling station owner said he is losing profit because people are stealing chocolates from his shop.
His security officer caught a 25-year-old man with 11 stolen chocolate bars on 6 February.
Employees saw the man was stealing the chocolates and hiding them in his trousers.
The local police were called and the man was arrested.
Lt Bettina Zondo, spokesman, said the case against the man was withdrawn, but the docket was not closed as the case is still under investigation.
The chocolates were returned to the filling station and the owner banned the man from his business premises.
Lt Zondo requests business owners to report cases of shoplifting.
She said they do conduct crime operations at taxi ranks and do arrest people with stolen property.
