A Manenberg vrou who told liegstories to cops and made false insurance claims is now facing criminal charges at the Athlone Magistrates Court.
Acting station commander Colonel Harry Brickles says the 22-year-old woman was uitgevang as she tried to lodge an insurance claim saying her flatscreen TV and laptop were stolen during a break-in.
The case dates back to September last year when along with her husband they went to pawn their household goods because they were strapped for cash.
He explains: "The investigation into an alleged house break-in in Gonubie Street on 9 September 2024 saw eagle-eyed detectives work hard to uncover their plot.
"The accused, Miriam Mohammed, came to the station to report that her TV and laptop which they bought at Bears furniture store was stolen during a house break-in and the investigation commenced."
With nearly no leads, Brickles said the team became aware that the goods had been sold at two pawn shops in Claremont.
He adds: "But when they inspected who sold it it was found that the woman’s husband had in fact traded in the items in exchange for R7000.
"She then implicated her own husband claiming he stole the items.
"But further investigation by the detectives revealed that she was aware that the items were being pawned and agreed to it and in fact made a false police report and after opening a criminal case she also lodged a claim with her insurance company."
Brickles explained the insurance company was processing the claim where their investigators became suspicious and contacted Manenberg detectives.
The cop says: "They were already processing the claim and realised something was wrong. She was brought in and questioned and subsequently charged with perjury and fraud and appeared in the Athlone Magistrates Court on 13 March and the case was postponed for further investigations."
Brickels said incidents like this have an impact on the police services and warns mense to refrain from reporting fake cases.
He adds: "We want to warn the public to refrain from criminalising themselves. This investigation was a waste of state resources and as Manenberg SAPS we will not tolerate this.
"We will proceed with criminal charges against any person found to be making false cases.’’
