Phoenix family robbed by fake eThekwini Municipality officials driving an NDM vehicle and carrying a 'legal' letter

A Phoenix family has been robbed by at least six armed men posing as eThekwini Municipality electricity department officials. Picture: Facebook

A Phoenix family has been robbed by at least six armed men posing as eThekwini Municipality electricity department officials. Picture: Facebook

Published Mar 24, 2022

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DURBAN - A Phoenix family has been robbed by at least six armed men posing as eThekwini Municipality electricity department officials.

KZN VIP Protection Services spokesperson Gareth Naidoo said bogus municipality officers had held up a family in Phoenix, north of Durban, on Thursday morning.

Naidoo said when KZN VIP responded to the scene where it is believed that six men all armed approached the homeowner and stated that they were from the municipality and there was a query they were following up on.

He said the suspects were driving a white Isuzu bakkie with NDM registration and dressed in municipal clothing.

The Isuzu bakkie driven by the suspects who robbed a Phoenix family while posing as municipal officials. Picture: Facebook

“The suspects then produced a firearm and forced their way into the home.”

“An undisclosed amount of valuables were taken as well as the staff who were working in the garden were robbed,” Naidoo said.

He added that the family and staff who had reported for work during the robbery were not injured, however, they were left severely traumatised.

“It is believed that the robbers had multiple forms as well although the homeowner was only shown the letter with their address,” Naidoo said.

“There’s a chance they (robbers) are doing this in other areas too.”

It was reported that the suspects produced a letter purported to be from the electricity unit. The letter had a letterhead, municipality logo, reference number 7/71/4/SJ/Cb - 52451, enquiries to [email protected] and signature (D Smith).

The letter titled Authorisation For Electrical Investigation had the family’s residential address and was dated 24 March 2022.

The letter read: “Please note that an investigation for ** Nedlen Road, Lenham, Phoenix 4068, has been granted. N.B. Inspectors will carry out an investigation for +/- 25 minutes.”

“Your cooperation would be highly appreciated.”

The letter produced by the robbers who robbed a Phoenix family while posing as municipal officials. Picture: Facebook

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the complainant did not open a case.

“It is alleged by the complainant that this morning he was at his place of residence at Nedlen Place, Esselen in Phoenix when he was approached by six males who pretended to be municipal workers. At gunpoint they demanded for a safe which the complainant did not have. The suspects then grabbed a cell phone and fled the scene,” Mbele said.

This is how people reacted to the report:

Lee Perumal asked: “How would they get a letter and an NDM vehicle?”

Kajal Maharaj said: “Oyo yama how they got this letter isn't this the letterhead of the municipality what is happening this is so bad this is so inside job.”

Wendy Singh said: “This is what happens when we have a corrupt government. It's a ripple effect.”

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