Cape Town – An angry Mitchells Plain mom wants to warn the public to look out for a thief who uses her own son to rob people.
She says the woman has trained her 10-year-old son well – while she distracts people, the boy steals unsuspecting people’s bags and valuables.
The Westridge mother claims the two had stolen her son’s new Adidas bag on his birthday at a restaurant in Claremont, before robbing an old lady of her bag in Gatesville an hour later.
She has video footage of the duo in action, but says police have refused to open a case “because there was not enough evidence”.
Her 22-year-old son was sitting at Main Meal in Claremont Main Road, enjoying a gatsby with six of his friends when he was targeted.
He only noticed later that his bag, with R1 200 cash, a top and his wallet in it, was gone.
“They had just come back from a hike in Newlands Forest and were socialising and eating a gatsby with the bag next to him,” the mom explains.
She says security footage showed the suspect in the shop buying food.
“She can be seen standing next to my son’s bag when she suddenly dropped a piece of paper and moved the bag away from his side,” she says.
“When she got her food order, she stood between my son and the bag, and ordered her young son to take the bag and walk out.”
The thief was wearing an orange sun dress and the boy blue jeans and a blue long-sleeved top.
The angry mother says her son’s whole birthday was spoiled: “They were still going to the movies, but came home because of that skelme lady.”
She says the pair were caught on camera an hour later stealing an old woman’s bag at Vangate Mall using a similar method.
The victim was the grandmother of one of her son’s friends.
“They were wearing the same clothing, so we know it’s them. I can’t believe she is using her 10-year-old son to steal like this,” the shocked mom says.
But when she tried to open a case at Claremont SAPS, cops turned her away.
“They said they can’t see the lady’s face clearly [in the footage] so there isn’t anything they can do about it.”
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, urged victims of crime to lay charges.
“Alternatively, they can contact station management when police refuse to take the cases,” she says.