Cape Town - Police in Brackenfell have warned elderly residents to be cautious following reports of a man impersonating a City of Cape Town (CoCT) employee to gain access to their homes before robbing them.
According to reports, a man was visiting homes under the pretence of being a municipality employee doing a survey.
Police spokesperson, Captain Erica Crous said this appeared to be the case last week in Springbok Park where a cell phone and wallet was stolen from an 84-year-old resident's home.
The suspect is alleged to have knocked on the complainant's door at 10am. He spoke Afrikaans and was dressed in khaki coloured overall pants with white fluorescent strips at the bottom of the pants.
Crous said the man alleged that he worked for the City and they were specifically checking the homes of senior citizens to see how their municipal tariffs can be reduced.
“He said for this survey he needed to check the amount of plugs in the house and the electricity box. He also provided a CoCT identity card which looked very authentic. He went from room to room in the complainant’s home.
“In the main bedroom he went to the complainant’s bed and checked by the headboard. By this time the complainant trusted him and waited for him in his work room adjacent to the bedroom.
“When the suspect left the complainant wanted to make a phone call and realised his phone as well as his wallet which was on his bedside table next to his bed were gone,” said Crous.
In an incident in January, police said the modus operandi was similar.
“Here the suspect wore blue overall trousers and light blue T-shirt. He also produced a CoCT identity card. He indicated that he had to inspect the water box and electricity meter. He also took cell phones," Crous said.
Crous added there have also been reported incidents of a suspect posing as an Eskom employee.
Police urged residents to not let a person enter their homes if they are suspicious and to immediately report such incidents to the City office or the police.
Anyone with information on the incidents can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.