Two women have been arrested for theft at Rosebank Mall after they were allegedly caught pickpocketing belongings in two separate incidents.
On 19 January, Irene Balkind reported to mall security that her cellphone had been stolen from her bag while paying for a parking ticket. Balkind noticed three well-dressed women standing very close to her while she was waiting to pay her parking ticket, but did not feel suspicious about them.
Balkind only noticed her cellphone was missing some time later and returned to the mall to report it. The CCTV footage at the mall showed three women following Balkind and one of them allegedly stealing her cellphone from her bag while the other two women stood very close to Balkind to act as a distraction.
“They have a whole wall of mug shots in the security office of people who were arrested at Rosebank [Mall],” said Balkind.
Daniel Kwnika, a security guard at the mall, followed up with Balkind a few weeks later when two women were caught pickpocketing in Pick n Pay. Balkind was asked to go to the mall and identify whether or not it was the same women who had allegedly stolen her cellphone a few weeks earlier. “Daniel said to me that criminals usually come back to their hunting ground,” Balkind added.
The two women were arrested on 9 February and taken to Rosebank Police Station.
“When we arrested them we called the customers to come and identify the women,” said Kwnika.
Danie de Beer, general manager for Rosebank Mall said, “We handed them over to the SAPS, I am concerned that this happened at the mall.”
Spokesperson for Rosebank Police Station, Bongi Mdletshe, said it was unclear whether or not the suspects have received bail. “We are concerned that it is a syndicate. There are a lot [of complaints] and we are trying to link the suspects,” said Mdletshe.
He also said the station currently possesses five dockets which identify the same person stealing items out of handbags from the CCTV footage at the mall.
“They were terrorising customers from Woolworths and Pick n Pay, but they haven’t come back now. We want customers to feel safe,” alleged Kwnika.
Details: Rosebank Police Station 011 778 4700.
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