Police have warned bank customers on the East Rand to be cautious after two people were duped out of their cash by fake police officers on Wednesday.
Superintendent Andy Pieke on Thursday said a man and a woman were approached outside banks in Alberton and Germiston by bogus police officers, believed to be operating in Boksburg as well.
”The first incident occurred on Wednesday when a woman left a bank on Voortrekker Road [in Alberton]. She saw a man bending down to pick up something. The man told her to accompany him, as it was money that they could share,” said Pieke.
”A white vehicle with three men inside stopped nearby. They said they were police and told the woman and the man they must come with them to the police station.”
The men drove a short distance, took R950 from the 53-year-old woman and ordered her to get out of the car, Pieke said.
In the second incident, a 34-year-old man was tricked while leaving a bank on President Street in Germiston.
Pieke said: ”He spotted a woman picking up a bag. When he told the woman to hand the bag to the bank, the woman insisted they should share the money.”
Pieke said three men posing as police officers then approached the two and told the man they had seen him taking the money.
They ordered the man to place the money he had withdrawn in an envelope, which they handed to him. They then gave the envelope back and left, said Pieke.
The thieves had given back an empty envelope and had taken the R1 020 the man had withdrawn.
Pieke said no arrests have been made. Police are investigating. — Sapa