LA ROCHELLE resident, Stella Pretorius said she wanted to warn other shoppers to be on the lookout for common criminals and pick-pocketers who tried their luck on her two weeks ago at Shoprite in Rosettenville on Main and Turf Club Street.
Stella Pretorius said she was almost a victim of theft when a man attempted to steal her belongings in her bag while she was shopping on September 7.
Pretorius said she was inside the large food chain near the meat section when a man bumped into her. The man quickly asked Pistorius if she could assist him by passing him a packet of chicken.
“I felt slightly on edge after the man had abruptly bumped into me.The man had a basket in his hand with a towel covering his other hand. The towel was to hide his other hand while it was opening my bag.”
She confronted him and asked: “What are you trying to do?”
The man quickly walked away.
Pretorius said she told security guards who apparently did not not take her seriously.
“It was disturbing that the security guards who were checking people’s receipts did not even attempt to do anything about it.
“I went home and was glad that I fortunately caught this attempted thug before I lost any valuables, unlike the previous incident in October last year, when my purse was stolen at the same store. I lost a purse after three guys somehow distracted me long enough to tactically take my purse from my bag.”
She noticed her purse was missing only when she got to the till.
At that time she reported the matter to management but said she lost faith after a few meetings when she saw no chance of her getting her purse back or the perpetrator being caught.
An enquiry was sent to the outlet’s head office to establish if similar cases had been reported on previous occasions and if they were aware of Pistorius’s case.
An automated message with the reference number 12696 was delivered to the COURIER confirming the enquiry would receive attention.
Pistorius said she simply wanted to warn other shoppers everywhere as theft was a concern everywhere.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
