Security expert falls prey to crime

Louis Grobler, the head honcho of Security in Practice and one of the countries’ foremost security experts has foiled many a thief and criminal’s attempts.

Grobler offers crime tips to South Africans on a regular basis and is often quoted in newspapers with his sound advice and inside information on crime. He advocates constant vigilance. But last week he fell prey to thieving fingers as well.

“Colour me astonished,” Grobler said, half-ruefully in Melville.

“It can happen to anyone, see.”

Grobler explained that he’d gone to The Berg: Greymont Shopping Centre to do his laundry on Thursday 29 June.

“I got distracted because I saw a friend of mine as I left the car, and I might not have locked the car boot, I’m not sure,” Grobler explained.

“It took me less than 10 minutes to deposit my washing at the Wishy Washy. I went back to my car, climbed in and drove to my son. Whilst driving there I realised that the boot was rattling.”

He opened the car boot at his son’s home.

“And would you know it – my laptop, documents, cell phones, pretty much everything was gone. The boot was empty. There was a hell of a lot of very precious information on there. Luckily I have it all backed up.”

Grobler wasn’t as lucky with his missing identity document and keys – these will have to be replaced.

He later checked the footage of the crime on security cameras at the shopping centre. The video showed the car boot opening, but not the perpetrator’s face.

Grobler doesn’t rue the missing equipment as much as he rues his own lack of vigilance.

“It’s just that split-second that you don’t pay attention – and wham, you’re a victim of crime. The lesson here is to keep your eyes open.”