PostedMarch 18, 2013 by

Since January 2013, estate agents in the wealthy areas of Cape Town, including Welgemoed, Plattekloof and Sea Point, have been struggling with theft at showhouses. Towards the end of February 2013 another such theft took place in Welgemoed, Cape Town. This time a Blackberry cellphone, iPod, digital camera, expensive jewelry,dictaphone and PlayStation Portable were stolen. Justicia Investigations was instructed to trace and arrest the culprits. On Tuesday 12 March 2013 information from an informer was followed up and a Coloured male and female aged about  25, were arrested at a drug house in the Woodstock area. Both suspects have appeared in Bellville court on 14 March 2013 and were remanded in custody. Several of the stolen items, including jewellery, iPod, digital camera and Blackberry phone were subsequently recovered from the individuals that bought the stolen goods from the suspects. They admitted to regularly dressing up as wealthy potential buyers, under the false names of Antonio and Adriana Adams,  and visiting expensive homes in upperclass neighbourhoods in Cape Town. The couple would pose as husband and wife with the lady looking and acting pregnant. This was however just part of the ploy, as she had a false tummy that they used to hide the stolen items in. The “husband” and “wife” would take turns to distract the estate agent while the other one scavenged rooms for valuable items. They then spent a few days selling off the stolen goods and using the proceeds mainly for purchasing food and drugs, before they struck again the next Sunday. We suspect that several Cape Town estate agents have fallen victim to these con artists and all victims are welcome to contact Justicia Investigations so that criminal cases can be added to the current case.