New Generation of Child Thieves at SA Shopping Malls as Parents Groom Kids to Steal
It appears stealing is becoming a family business in South Africa with everyone from mum and dad to children getting involved. As Jingle Bells plays in SA malls, and tinsel sparkles all over, the festive shopping season is in full swing – and thieves are gearing up for the action too. Last week an exasperated Spur […]
It appears stealing is becoming a family business in South Africa with everyone from mum and dad to children getting involved. As Jingle Bells plays in SA malls, and tinsel sparkles all over, the festive shopping season is in full swing – and thieves are gearing up for the action too.
Last week an exasperated Spur diner took to Facebook to share a video of his wife’s handbag being stolen at the restaurant in the mall at Tygervalley in Cape Town.
With tongue in cheek, Louis Fourie wrote: “You can see “little Tommy” turning around and taking my wife’s handbag by mistake …. his mom must have one that looks the same.”
As can be seen in the video – the boy is sitting next to someone who looks like his dad, and after stealing the handbag, he passes it under the table to what looks like his mom. A family friend/aunt then comes to the table, leans down and takes the bag, turns around with it, and walks off. The family follow.
Louis wrote: “You can keep the money and my daughter’s Christmas present but please return the bag with the rest. Biggest problem is our last keyless car key was inside and that is going to cost a few thousand to replace… thanks for this ‘awesome’ start to Christmas this year… bastids.”
WATCH Mall Theft: Son groomed to steal handbag
https://www.facebook.com/louiskzor.fourie/videos/332375377586546/
Last month another video went viral, showing a mother using her three children to steal a handbag from a customer at a Steers restaurant in Paarl in the Western Cape.
The family hovered near a table with the mom pretending to be on the phone whilst the children tried to grab the bag. The little boy couldn’t quite do it, but his older sister managed to… before they all walked off together with the stolen item. (Watch below.)
During the holidays, shoppers are often in a rush and less alert, making them easy targets for criminals who are adapting their modus operandi – using children to do their dirty work.
This week South Africa’s popular current affairs programme Carte Blanche asks: with thousands of people on-the-go in your favourite mall, would you spot the tiny hands of a child, groomed to steal from you?
In the show, presented by Devi Sankaree Govender, Carte Blanche also investigates the psychology behind parents who are grooming their own children to steal and commit petty crimes; and finds out how consumers will be protected.
Watch the show on M-Net tonight at 7pm. If you’re a South African living abroad – subscribe to Showmax to watch from Tues 18 Dec (14-day Free Trial).
WATCH Paarl mother uses children in bag snatch
WATCH Carte Blanche Trailer, Sunday 16 December 2018
Jingle Bells playing and tinsel is sparkling all over malls. As the #festive shopping season is in full swing we examine a new generation of thieves who are gearing up for the action too.
Join @Devi_HQ for #CarteBlanche Sun 7pm @mnet pic.twitter.com/W0pFrkeOUF— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) December 12, 2018
Criminals groom children to steal from shoppers. #CarteBlanche @devi_hq pic.twitter.com/gjtjEnM04w
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) December 16, 2018