Shoplifter gets lucky... packet
2010-01-18 23:18
Pretoria - A woman was caught on closed-circuit television on Saturday afternoon as she was stealing a lucky packet, a 2010 camera bag and three energy drinks at the Total garage in Waltloo, Pretoria.
At one stage, just after she stole the camera bag, she looked directly at the camera. But she didn't allow that to put her off.
Jacobus Oberholzer, manager of the garage, said he was walking through the shop later that afternoon to see if everything was okay, when he saw that one of his soccer souvenirs was gone.
"I checked the computer myself to see if anything had been sold, but there was nothing. I looked at the closed-circuit video and saw the woman stealing."
The woman entered the shop at about 12:25 and bought a Coke, water and chewing gum.
On the video she can be seen paying for the three items.
Hidden under arm
After she had paid, she gave the water back to the cashier. The cashier walked away. It looks as if he went to swop the water for her.
Oberholzer said when the cashier was gone, the woman first stole three energy drinks and kept them in her hand.
"Then she looked around and turned around and took a lucky packet from a shelf and tried to hide it under her arm."
On the video one can easily see how she tries to hide the lucky packet with the Coke. She looked around again, and stole a camera bag which was right in front of her and also pushed it in under her arm.
"Then she looked up, straight at the camera. That didn't make her change her mind. The cashier came back with the water.
"The woman took it from him and walked out, without having paid for the other three items.
"She got into a bakkie where a man and child were waiting for her."
Items worth R235
According to Oberholzer, the value of the stolen goods is R235.
"The camera bag cost R180, the lucky packet cost R25 and the energy drinks cost R30."
Oberholzer reported the incident to the Silverton police.
Jan Sepato, police spokesperson, has confirmed that the police are investigating a charge of theft against the woman.