Two women have been remanded in custody by the Verulam Magistrates Court for drugging and robbing a 75-year-old man. The women, aged 39 and 47, have been charged with theft.
Spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), Prem Balram said it was alleged that the suspects approached the victim while in his yard at his home in Mungal Road, Riet River and struck up a conversation with him. “The women inquired about his late wife and mentioned her by name. The man then invited the women into his home and offered them something to drink. The suspects insisted on preparing the tea and proceeded to the kitchen where they prepared the beverage for themselves and the victim. After consuming the tea, the victim blacked out, regaining consciousness several hours later to find his house ransacked.”
The man woke up to find that cash, three mobile phones, eastern clothing, several pairs of branded shoes and other valuables were taken. CCTV footage showed the suspects leaving the property with bags, their identities concealed by masks.
Reaction officers acting on information found one of the suspects at her home in Chatsworth and after keeping observation, the 39-year-old woman was arrested in Montford. “When interviewed by reaction officers, she alleged she accompanied a friend to the residence and noticed the man become incoherent after drinking the tea. She said they left the residence with three bags of stolen goods after her friend exited the elderly victim’s bedroom. She alleged that she was unaware that he had passed out,” said Balram.
The woman offered to point out the home of her accomplice. Reaction officers travelled to Phoenix where they located the other suspect at a crèche in Sunford. “When interviewed she informed reaction officers that the valuables taken in the robbery were given to a friend of her teenage son. She added that she befriended the elderly victim on Facebook and had boarded an Uber to his home on Friday expecting to be compensated for the visit.”
Both women were handed over to the SAPS and held at the Verulam station, Balram said while the women were in custody, family of the suspects handed in the items they stole.
During their first court appearance, the state prosecutor opposed bail and informed the court that the suspects were linked to two similar cases in Phoenix, both cases were registered with the SAPS in the eThekwini region. Information was received that one of the suspects was convicted and handed a 10-year sentence wholly suspended for five years for a crime with the same Modus Operandi.
The Magistrate remanded both women to the police cells at SAPS Verulam and the matter was adjourned. The identities of the suspects will be withheld until the identity parade has been concluded by the investigating officer.
The incident garnered a lot of attention on social media, one Facebook commenter, Arthi Bucktwar said: “What a disgrace to do that to an old man. I seriously don’t understand people in this world anymore, instead of helping the elderly, they rob them. I hope the elderly man is okay and has learned not to allow anyone in his home.” Another commenter, Roslyn Gangai said: “I wonder how many other people were victimised by these women but are afraid to come forward. You can see a clear pattern, make contact with a victim on social media and then rob them.”
