Pick pocketer targets man in Sunningdale
The resident said the incident unfolded within a minute.
“IF a group of men suddenly approach you in the middle of your shopping, pretending to know you, try to get away from them immediately,” said a Sunningdale man who was robbed of his cellphone by three men using the same modus operandi.
Speaking to Northglen News, Chandrasagren Pillay said he was shopping at a store in the Sunningdale Shopping Centre, when out of nowhere, a man appeared in front of him and started talking to him in a friendly manner.
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“He greeted me and shook my hand, as if I were his long-lost friend while I was still trying to figure out what was happening. I was busy shopping and didn’t expect to be distracted in this manner. There were two other men behind me,” said Pillay.
“He told me to come and meet his friend, but I told him that I didn’t know who he or his friend were. He then left me alone and disappeared,” he added.
A few seconds later, Pillay noticed that his cellphone was missing from his back pocket, and by the time he ran outside to see if he could find the man, he saw his pickpocket and the two other men already getting into a silver vehicle and leaving the premises. The driver of the vehicle had reversed into the first parking bay and started to move before the other occupants got in.
“It must have taken me about 30 seconds to realise that my phone was missing and for me to arrive outside. It all happened so quickly,” he said.
Pillay said he would like to make the community aware of the incident and urges locals to be vigilant when shopping.
“You wouldn’t think that something like this would happen to you inside a store in the presence of security, but these men make it seem like you know them so there is no need for security to think anything suspicious is going on,” he said.
Sunningdale Shopping Centre manager Alan Barter confirmed that the incident did take place at a store in the shopping centre.
“I can confirm that the incident was reported to me. I am waiting on footage from the store, which I have requested. This footage and the mall’s footage will be handed over to the SAPS should they request it for their investigation,” said Barter.
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