UPDATE: Bag snatchers continue robbing people of their valuables near Pieter Roos Park

More victims of robberies along Victoria Street in Parktown are coming out to share their stories about theft by people posing as window washers at the notorious crime hotspot.

Gail Gem Morty Mortinson was an unfortunate victim of a snatch and grab that took place on the corner of Victoria Street and Empire Road while on her way to work.

The assailant fled with her handbag to the culvert at Pieter Roos Park that leads into the storm-water tunnel, which is not far from the sidewalk along Victoria Street where the incident took place, said Mortinson.

Read: City Parks and Zoo aware of bag snatcher’s escape tunnel in Parktown

“The culprit is one of the window washers who operate at this high crime hotspot intersection. The majority of these window washers are clad in black attire.” She said the assailant who stole her handbag was wearing a black hoodie.

“The window washers are hectic nyaope addicts, and are linked to the window washers who can be seen hanging about the robot intersection, located at the Wits Rea Vaya bus station, underneath the bridge, further down Empire Road,” she alleged

Commenting on the North Eastern Tribune’s Facebook post about a previous story, Richard Welch, said this has happened on and off for years and people are aware of this. “Every now and then it gets fenced off. One has to be quite a brave and determined bag snatcher to flee down that tunnel – and God help you if it rains upstream,” he said.

City Parks and Zoo spokesperson, Jenny Moodley told the Tribune that they are aware of these incidents but their interventions fell short. “We fenced it off on a number of occasions but they keep on destroying the fence.

“We have also tried to liaise with the police and the Metro police but the incidents still occur there.”
Moodley added that they will try to organise a meeting with the law enforcement agencies to put a plan in place to combat crime near that park.

Details: Jenny Moodley 011 712 6615.

Have your say about the incidents of crime along Victoria Street in Parktown by posting on the North Eastern Tribune Facebook page.