OAKDENE – Two brazen female shoplifters were captured on CCTV footage installed by a boutique owner at Comaro Crossing Shopping Centre, whose shop has been hit more than once by the criminal duo.
Elements Boutique owners, Carla Silva and her partner, have resorted to installing CCTV surveillance security as they believe shoplifters are targeting their store, which sells high-end imported jewellery and clothing.
Since the beginning of the year, at least three cellphones have been swiped and other goods shoplifted by criminals posing as customers drawn in by the beautiful items on the window display. These criminals are not your average ‘thug on the street’ looking individuals; they deck themselves out in nice clothing when they undertake to commit their crimes.
Carla described the two women, who were recently captured by cameras stealing a cellphone: “These shoplifters are well presented black women who pretend to be shopping. They browsed the store admiring the clothes and they fitted the jewellery.”
The criminal behaviour described by Carla is what can be seen on the CCTV video footage. The two ladies browse the store looking at clothing, shoes and handbags. They take their time going around the store and conversing with the staff.
It isn’t too long before they both make their way to the counter where they request to see the jewellery trays. They can be seen trying on the accessories and asking for each other’s approval. But it is when another customer walks in and seeks the assistance of the staff member behind the counter that one of the shoplifting women swoops in and steals a phone stashed by the counter.
It is not clear how the criminal managed to see that there was a cellphone under the counter, but she knew exactly how to quickly stash it in her handbag. When the criminal has the phone in her bag, her accomplice helps her to take off the jewellery and then they promptly leave the store.
What had Carla upset after the incident took place was that Comaro Crossing Shopping Centre security surveillance cameras did not capture the getaway transportation used by the two shoplifting females, as the cameras are limited to the walkway. The cameras do not capture the action that happens in the parking lot.
The two shoplifters can be seen on the shopping centre’s footage walking out of the store and into the parking lot, but that is all they captured.
The CHRONICLE reporter discovered that the centre’s cameras are limited to certain parts of the top floor. Not enough cameras are on the top floor, which results in the office monitoring security officer having to manually rotate each camera to cover different aspects of the building.
The camera on one end of the centre is completely blocked by the lifts tower on the top floor, which makes it extremely difficult to monitor the parking lot.
Numerous efforts to reach Comaro Crossing Centre management were unsuccessful; the contact numbers provided went unanswered and voice messages requesting a call back proved fruitless.
Although Elements Boutique owner Carla phoned Moffatview Police to report the matter, she said that she was simply told that there was nothing they could do.
Moffatview SAPS Communication Officer, Constable Bila, is on leave and no response could be provided.
