A commotion in High Street on Saturday afternoon revealed yet another victim of the so-called 'flat-tyre' scam.
During the past two weeks, Grocott's Mail has received several reports of people being tricked into getting out of their cars to check a purported flat tyre. It is a ruse that allows thieves to grab valuables from inside the vehicle.
A commotion in High Street on Saturday afternoon revealed yet another victim of the so-called 'flat-tyre' scam.
During the past two weeks, Grocott's Mail has received several reports of people being tricked into getting out of their cars to check a purported flat tyre. It is a ruse that allows thieves to grab valuables from inside the vehicle.
In Saturday's incident, a woman ran hysterically looking for help in an attempt to recover her handbag, after it had been stolen in just such a ruse: two men had distracted her by saying she had a flat tyre.
The unsuspecting woman had just walked away from the driver's side of the car, where she'd left her handbag on the seat, with her window open.
She'd gone around the vehicle to look at the passenger-side tyre. Realising there was nothing wrong with her tyre, she returned to the driver's side only to see that her bag was missing.
"Oh my God! Help me! They just stole my bag, with all my things! Please call the police!" she shouted.
Seeing a police van parked on the other side of the street, she rushed across to tell them what had just happened – but by then the men had already escaped with her bag.
Police say the woman is just the latest among a growing number of people who have been robbed using the same tactic.
Last month, police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender warned of a trend emerging in the CBD, in which criminals grab valuables after catching drivers off-guard.
She urged people to contact the police if they have any information and warned drivers not to leave valuables unattended in their cars.
Responding to questions about Saturday's incident, Govender said a case of theft out of a motor vehicle was reported to the police after the driver of a car parked in front of Clicks was approached by a man and told her tyre was flat.
"The victim opened the window and after the suspect left, she discovered that her leather handbag with valuable personal belongings was missing," Govender said.
Grahamstown resident Leonie Yendall and a prominent councillor have also been victims of this scam.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail on Wednesday, Yendall said she believed some of the parking attendants were in on the scam as well, adding that she had conveyed these allegations to the police.
Describing the men whom she says operate mainly near Standard Bank and Clicks, she said they dress in jackets and are very polite when they approach.
"Before I got into my car the parking attendant started arguing with me, asking me to pay before I got into my car. I told her that I needed to get into my car and be comfortable before I pay," Yendall said.
Shortly after, Yendall said a man knocked on her partly open window, informing her that she had a flat tyre.
As she went around to check, another man jumped towards the window and snatched a few items, including a bag of cycling kit.
Questioning the parking attendant after the incident, Yendall said the woman had merely laughed at her.
Another resident who would have been a victim of this scam sent Grocott's Mail a letter, thanking a man who came to her rescue.
The man apparently chased the bag-snatcher and recovered it.
The full letter is on Page 6 of today's newspaper.
Govender said similar incidents had been reported to the police. She advised drivers to have a quick look at their tyres before getting into their cars.
She said most of the CBD has car guards and urged motorists to keep change handy for them. "The car guard should assist you if you are reversing out of a parking bay," she said.
