Baby bag skelm oupa is caught at Parow Centre
BUSTED: The suspect from Ravensmead. Picture supplied
A skelme oupa from Ravensmead who has been snatching baby bags from unsuspecting moms is behind bars after he was busted at Parow Centre last week.
The 52-year-old man was nabbed by the security manager, Ronald Pillai, a week after he was caught on camera stealing the bag of mom Rosaline Opperman.
Pillai of Grinnell Security Services says they first became aware of the thief in July when an Elsies River mom reported that her blue baby bag was stolen while shopping at Choice Clothing.
“We obtained CCTV footage of the suspect and kept it on file as the woman registered a case at Parow SAPS,” he says.
Mom Rosaline Opperman, 27, says she became the oupa’s next target while shopping for a baptism dress in Jet for her one-month-old daughter on 30 September.
“It was a bright yellow bag in the trolley. I wanted to get a white dress for my daughter and I just looked away for one second and the bag was gone.”
Rosaline says she got a skrik when she reported the matter to security and they discovered the oupa had followed her across the mall.
“He followed us and just waited for a chance,” she says.
“All my baby supplies, my cards, my ID, cellphone and money were in the bag.
“I am very glad he was caught but I think he targets mothers with babies because he knows you are focused on the child.”
Pillai says on Thursday morning he spotted the oupa in the mall looking for another victim and immediately arrested him and handed him over to police.
“He was even wearing the same red and black Nike takkies that you could clearly see on the footage.”
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms the arrest and says the suspect will appear in Bellville Magistrates’ Court today where he faces two charges of theft.