A bogus car seller appeared in court for armed robbery after he was accused of targeting potential car buyers.
The Yeoville SAPS spokesperson, Constable Thabo Malatji, said the man would advertise online that he was selling his car.
“When potential buyer contacted him, he would encourage them to meet him for a test drive. He would ask the buyer to bring money so that if they liked the vehicle, they could take it immediately,” he said.
He said the conman directed potential buyers to isolated areas for the proposed test drive.
“Once alone, the man would then point a firearm at the potential buyer, rob the person of money and other valuables, before driving off,” said Const Malatji.
Const Malatji said one of the conman’s victims reported the matter to the police.
“On November 26, the victim spotted the conman at the Fort Squire and Frances Street intersection and he called the police. The man was arrested and appeared in court on Monday,” he said.
Const Malatji urged people to be vigilant when making private purchases.
“Stop buying off the streets. Before you even meet the person or make a payment, find out if it is a real deal. Even when you meet, try to meet at a secure place or at a police station,”
In a separate incident in Yeoville, a man was pepper sprayed when he went to collect furniture he viewed the previous day.
He said the man wanted to buy furniture that he saw was for sale online.
“He made a deal with the seller. The following day when he went to pay and collect the furniture, there was no furniture. He had paid the money before seeing the furniture. He was pepper sprayed by the bogus seller and his accomplice,” said Const Malatji.
The man reported the case to the Yeoville SAPS.
