Ivory Park SAPS urged small business owners, particularly salon owners, to be on the lookout for a gang of individuals who are stealing mobile phones around the community.
This came after a 22-year-old woman from the group was detained at Ebony Park this week after the people she was with stole two smartphones from a salon while she distracted the hairdresser who serviced her.
Immediately after the four suspects disappeared with the cellphones, the woman was prevented from leaving the salon and the police were called to the scene.
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“After listening, it became clear to the officers that this was not just a random act of theft but a well-coordinated group spanning from Soweto to Ebony Park and possibly some other places,” said Brig David Mbongeni Ngcobo, Ivory Park SAPS station commander.
“The gang enters a salon or a small commercial location, pretending to be clients, distract the operator, take the cellphone while the operator is occupied with one of them and then depart. After her luck ran out, the woman, who is from Berea in Johannesburg, informed the police about a few additional thefts she had in Ebony Park and Soweto at another salon. She claimed the man she was with was her boyfriend, who had only recently introduced her to this lifestyle.”
The woman has been charged with two counts of theft and her accomplices are being sought.
She was transported to the Thembisa Magistrate’s Court shortly after to face the charges.
“Anyone who has been a victim of a similar theft should contact the Ivory Park SAPS to see if this suspect was involved or not,” said Ngcobo.
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