The Edenvale SAPS has issued a strong warning to residents against opening false cases.
This follows the arrest of a woman at Stoneridge Shopping Centre after she falsely reported being robbed of an undisclosed amount of money.
The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, said the woman registered a robbery charge at the Edenvale SAPS.
“She claimed a man walked into the store where she worked and pointed a firearm at her. He then took the money she had with her before fleeing the centre,” said Lt Col Roberts.
He added that when video footage at the centre was reviewed, there appeared to be no suspicious activity.
“When we interviewed the woman again, she confessed that she was not robbed. Her entire story was a lie because she lost the money,” said Lt Col Roberts.
“Registering a false case with the SAPS is a serious offence. We understand people are desperate but it is no excuse to waste police resources,” he said.
Lt Col Roberts added that due to the increase in fraudulent cases reported, insurance companies have clamped down on their policies.
“Honest citizens are now suffering,” he said.
Lt Col Roberts added that not only do false cases have a negative impact on crime statistics, they also affect businesses.
“False cases puts added pressure on the SAPS, security services, shopping centres and insurance providers to investigate a case which never happened,” he said.
