'Steve the Shopper' helps himself at showhouses

A man, nicknamed “Steve the Shopper” by an online crime-fighting forum, has been targeting showhouses in Jo’burg and Pretoria to steal easy-to-carry valuables. He allegedly calls estate agents and sets up appointments to view houses they have advertised for sale. Calling himself either “Steve” or “Bertus”, he lifts cash and jewellery when the estate agent isn't looking.

Crime-fighting organisation eBlockwatch has set up a Facebook page specifically for estate agents to alert them to any crimes happening in areas where they work. It said it had been alerted to at least seven incidents where “Steve the Shopper” had been involved. The areas involved were Bassonia, Fourways Gardens, Broadacres, Mondeor, Midrand, Douglasdale, Dainfern Estate and Kyalami Estate. eBlockwatch said those were just the incidents they knew of. They were sure there were more. The organisation said it had managed to get CCTV footage of the alleged thief.

On May 16, the man calling himself Bertus made an appointment with an estate agent in Kyalami to view two properties. During the house visits, he allegedly stole jewellery worth R25 000 when he was left alone for a few minutes. At a showhouse in Mondeor earlier this month, R3 000, a wallet and a gold and silver watch were stolen.

This was not the first time eBlockwatch had seen this method of operation. Last year, a couple nicknamed “Bonnie and Clyde” worked their way from Cape Town along the coast, robbing showhouses. They were eventually caught by police in Port Elizabeth. In total, 18 cases had been opened against them. eBlockwatch urged estate agents to join the Facebook group to gather information on similar crimes.

The Star, Monday, May 26, 2014