Cape Town - Criminals posing as potential clients are increasingly targeting showhouses in Cape Town, it was reported on Tuesday.
The Institute of Estate Agents SA (IEASA) told the Cape Times that at least eight thefts had been reported in the city bowl, Observatory, Pinelands and Mowbray in the past two months.
IEASA Western Cape manager Dianne Brock said it seemed as if one man was involved in all the crimes.
A potential customer would meet an estate agent and be taken around a showhouse. The agent would then be distracted by other clients viewing the property and the initial customer would go off on his own.
Only later would it be discovered that small items had been stolen, Brock said.
These items included laptops, tablets, cellphones, jewellery, and iPods.
According to the report, provincial police could not confirm the thefts.
Some realtors had reportedly turned to virtual show houses to avoid this type of crime. - Sapa