False CoJ employee arrested for theft and malicious damage to Council property
JOBURG – The suspect initially gave police an incorrect residential address and when she handed over the correct one, police were not able to find any of the stolen equipment.
Woman suspected of the theft and damaging of City computer hard drives arrested.
The City of Johannesburg municipality offices in Braamfontein were breached by a 36-year-old woman on 14 October. According to the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) and Metro police, the suspect allegedly stole 60 computer hard drives from various work stations at the offices. A City statement read, ‘Criminal preliminary investigation shows that the suspect visited the offices on the 10th and 14th October 2020. Her movement was captured on the CCTV cameras.’
Prior to the arrest, GFIS noted the theft and damage of computers from a number of departments including Town Planning, Municipal Courts and Group Legal and Contracts. According to GFIS, she gained access to the building, pretending to be an employee and by giving security personnel false information including a SAP number. With the assistance of CCTV footage that captured the suspect in the act, on 14 October she was seen moving around the building again and was located with a bag of tools.
‘A search for her began and she was caught allegedly trying to break into the Legislature Offices by breaking the main door which leads to the offices. She was then arrested by the members of the police’, continued the statement.
The woman ultimately confessed to the crimes but initially gave police an incorrect residential address and when she handed over the correct one, police were not able to find any of the stolen equipment.
The GFIS profiling system showed the correct name and surname of the suspect with five active companies registered on the system detailing the suspect’s full names and address. The suspect was charged with theft and malicious damage to Council property and detained at Hillbrow Police Station. She is expected to appear in the Hillbrow Magistrates’ Court.
The City urges the public to report any fraud and corruption activities through their 24-hour tip-off hotline 0800 002 587 or to visit the GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.
