PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Police have once again warned residents and visitors to exercise caution when using an ATM after two tourists were duped out of R46 000 over the weekend.
This was just one of several crime incidents during this period, which varied from attempted robberies to burglaries.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said at about 20:00 on Saturday two foreign tourists were targeted at an FNB ATM in the town's centre.
"They asked the victims if they could help and within seconds both the young women lost about 3 000 euros (about R46 000)," Olivier said.
Plettenberg Bay police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse said people must take care when using an ATM. "When withdrawing money, don't allow any stranger to assist," Pieterse said. Police also warn to avoid isolated ATMs, especially late at night.
During the early hours of Saturday morning crime fighters had to deal with another incident, this time an attempted burglary. A suspect was spotted trying to kick down the door of the Picardi Rebel liquor store at a Kwanokuthula shopping centre.
Olivier said that a Plett Security officer however apprehended the suspect and handed him over to police.
Just after 22:00 that night New Horizons residents returned home only to discover that they had been burgled. "A television, iPad, laptop and jewellery were stolen," said Olivier. The matter is being investigated by police.
On Sunday at about 10:30, Rosheen Drive resident Salome Janse van Vuuren spotted three suspects on her property. The men had bags in their hands and fled the scene when they noticed that they had been spotted.
Janse van Vuuren is reported to have followed the suspects while calling for assistance from Smhart Alarms.
One of the suspects was apprehended while Janse van Rensburg managed to detain a second suspect. In the process she was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. The third suspect is still at large.
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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