Staff at a clothing store in the mall alerted security personnel about suspicious-looking women. When security officers approached the women, they fled the mall, but both were apprehended shortly thereafter. New, branded clothes with price tags of well-known stores were found in their possession. These items included jeans, T-shirts, jackets and dresses. It is believed that they used fitting rooms to put on the garments, concealed under their own clothes.
Further investigation took the police to a hitch-hiking spot on the N2 highway where a male accomplice was arrested.
The fourth suspect was arrested when the police and a local security company joined forces and searched the area for the vehicle that had allegedly been used as transport during the thieving spree. The vehicle, a white Hyundai, was later seen in the vicinity of the CBD and pulled over. Other stolen items were found in the car and the suspect was arrested. The vehicle and stolen goods were seized. Police also seized a Canon printer which they suspect was used to replicate purchase receipts to enable the suspects to exchange the stolen goods for cash later.
Preliminary investigation indicates that this group are from Gauteng and that they travelled from Cape Town before they were arrested in Knysna.
Police are also investigating the possibility that other stolen items might have been couriered to Johannesburg.
The suspects face charges of possession of stolen goods as well as shoplifting and will appear in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Friday, July 24.
These members of the SAPS Crime Prevention Unit were involved in the arrest of four suspected shoplifters. From left are Constable Benjamin Phambani, Constable Pietersen, Warrant-Officer Phillip Nqaui, Sergeant Virgil Cornelius, Constable Warren Ackerman and Constable Heinrich Appels.
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