Andre Snyman posted the video on his Facebook page as part of an initiative of Eblockwatch, a community project which fights crime by alerting communities about criminal activities.
“Security from the centre sent us the video to circulate. They told us that there has been a man at the centre who goes around smashing people’s cars and stealing their property,” explained Snyman.
In the video, a man carrying a brick approached a vehicle and smashed the back passenger window behind the driver’s seat. He quickly grabbed the laptop bag, got into another vehicle and drove off.
Deborah Hall, Bryanston Shopping Centre manager said, “A case has been opened with the Sandton police and we’re hoping that someone will come forward and identify the culprit.”
Hall does not believe that the culprit knew the centre had security surveillance, however, she suspects the number plate on the vehicle was fake. “We appeal to our customers to place their valuables in the car boot and not on the car seats,” she said.
Hall added that the centre only relies on the security cameras and the security officers for surveillance.
“I think the culprit took advantage that it was late afternoon and there were few people and cars at the parking lot,” she said.
