A 30-year-old woman from Nigel visited Heidelberg Mall for shopping on 27 November 2019 and was approached by the two females (seen in the photos) who were promoting a once-off special offered by Pep stores.
According to Captain Tshilate (communications officer), the suspects persuaded the victim to accompany them to Pep stores, but at the door, she was ‘drugged’ with some type of chemical, which resulted in the victim losing control over her thoughts/willpower.
“She willingly handed her handbag to one of the suspects at the door, while walking inside the shop with the other, who shortly thereafter disappeared,” Capt Tshilate said.
When the victim came to her ‘senses’ later, she immediately searched for the first lady with whom she had left her handbag, but she was nowhere to be found. The victim subsequently reported the incident to the police as her purse, cellphone, credit cards, debit cards, driver’s license and other clothing store cards were inside the stolen handbag.
Minutes after the incident occurred, a large sum of money was withdrawn from the victim’s bank account at Engen filling station ATM in Jacobs Street.
Police are appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the two women, or anyone who may know their identities to phone Det Sgt Tebello Pilo at 016 341 0400 during business hours or 016 341 0343 (any time of day) or 074 210 7132 or MySAPSApp or 08600 10111 or send sms to Crime Line 32211.
Col Amanda Viljoen (station commander) said anyone with information can visit her office and that information provided will be treated as confidential. She also advised that information can be provided anonymously.
