Thieving couple arrested after targeting elderly victims
A man and woman, both aged 30 years old, were arrested for a number of cases for theft and house robbery in the Durban area.
A COUPLE who targeted elderly women at Suncoast Casino and proceeded to scheme their way into their homes and drug them has finally been apprehended.
The man and woman, both aged 30 years old, were arrested for a number of cases of theft and house robbery in the Durban area. The South African Police Service (SAPS) eThekwini District Detective Task Team followed up on information that led to their arrest. Both accused made their first appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The matter has been remanded to May 22 for bail consideration. Bail has been opposed by SAPS.
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According to SAPS Captain Carmen Rhymes, the couple worked together and targeted elderly women. “Their modus operandi was for the woman to target elderly ladies at Suncoast Casino. She would befriend her victim by chatting, and on occasion, by giving her money to play and then take her personal details down. The next day, the victim would receive a call from the woman that she would be coming to visit or sending someone in regards to a personal matter of interest, which was discussed at the casino. The woman would then put on a Muslim hijab, covering her face and body. The man would accompany her to the elderly victim’s home,” said Rhymes.
Rhymes says that the man would then say he was sent by the woman. “The woman would disguise herself in the hijab and would not talk and let the man do all the talking. They would be received and invited into the elderly woman’s home and offered tea. While they were drinking tea, the male would ask for more sugar, and as the elderly woman left for the kitchen, they would put drugs into her tea. She would then return to the lounge and drink her tea. After a few minutes, she would feel dizzy, and they would help her to her bed where she would pass out. They would then rob her of any jewellery or valuables in her home,” said Rhymes.
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eThekwini District Commissioner Major General MV Kheswa commended the Task Team for an excellent arrest and said, “It is important to protect our vulnerable in society against crime. The elderly are often a soft target, and opportunistic criminals will use whatever manner they can to commit crimes against the elderly. I am very pleased to see that these two working criminals have been removed from our communities in the eThekwini District.”
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