Beware! Cellphone snatching increasing across Johannesburg
|Published
UNSOLICITED TROUBLE: If you acquire a cellphone number that previously belonged to another user, you could find yourself having to answer for someone else's debts. Picture: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Johannesburg - Security company Fidelity ADT has warned of an increase in pedestrians being targeted while waiting for an e-hailing service or while waiting for public transport commuting to and from work.
“The issue of cellphone snatching happens any time of day, whether people are dining at a restaurant and leave their cellphone on the table or if they are waiting outside on the pavement for an Uber. I urge everyone to not be complacent. We have noticed a re-emerging trend where criminals are driving around pretending to be e-hailing services looking for opportunities to commit crime,” said Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and communications for Fidelity ADT.
The number of incidents has increased dramatically in the recent weeks in Bryanston, Rivonia, Rosebank, Parktown and Sandton areas.
“These criminals will pretend to be Ubers and target unsuspecting victims. We are urging residents to be vigilant,” Hattingh said.
In the West Rand area, specifically the Honeydew precinct, people are being targeted outside shopping centres.
Hattingh urged residents to make sure they know what the load shedding roster is so that they can plan their walk to a certain destination; don’t walk with earphones listening to music; where possible walk with someone to just make them a little less vulnerable and hide their valuables/cellphone in your bag or inside jacket pocket.
She further encouraged victims of an attempted phone snatching to report the incident even if it was just an attempt.
“Remember that criminals are usually nervous and working under pressure so they can make mistakes. It is better to just give them what they want and avoid being injured. That same message needs to be communicated to your children so everyone understands the rules,” said Hattingh.
The Star