Anusha Crasto (21) was shopping in the mall with a family member when the two were approached by a man and woman.
The woman asked Crasto what the correct shoe size is for an eight-year-old, while the man asked her cousin the same question.
Once the suspects had left, Crasto noticed something was wrong.
“At that moment I realized the wallet was gone from my sling bag,” she said.
“I looked around in the store to find the woman and saw she was already at the entrance.
“I rushed to her and told her that my wallet was missing.
“She acted concerned but disappeared when I turned to my cousin.”
Her wallet contained 500 US dollars, R2 000, Indian currency, bank cards and a driver’s licence.
The India resident said she was caught by surprise.
“It was terrifying,” she told the City Times.
“My uncle asked me to be careful and I was holding tightly onto my bag, but I never thought someone would open it.
“All my friends are going to ask me how my trip was and I am going to tell them, I want them to know what can happen to them if they come here.”
She said there are positive aspects to South Africa, such as the friendly people and the clean environment, but added that this sort of crime would not have happened to her in India.
A case of theft has been opened at the Benoni Police Station.
No arrests have been made and the matter is under investigation.
Benoni SAPS spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele said police would like to warn the public to be careful and aware of their surroundings at all times.
“Criminals are everywhere, waiting for the opportunity to strike,” she warned.
She said people may be targeted at malls but, because they do not always report incidents, the SAPS are not always aware of such cases.
Sekele urged people to report crimes.
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