Man arrested after robbing pensioner on first date in KZN

A 54-year-old man was arrested after robbing a 66-year-old woman on a date on Thursday morning in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the victim met the suspect on a dating site called Badoo. They arranged to meet in person on a date and the suspect picked up the victim in Isipingo.

MAN ROBS PENSIONER ON DATE in KZN

After picking her up, they drove to Galleria Mall, Amanzimtoti, where the victim withdrew her SASSA grant.

“After three (3) hours, she was driven to a garage to freshen up. The suspect then sped off with her bag, R2000 in cash and her mobile phone. He then deleted his profile on Badoo,” said Reaction Unit South Africa.

Stressed and distraught, the victim contacted her family for assistance. They called Reaction Unit South Africa to help search for the suspect.

REACTION UNIT SOUTH AFRICA NABS SUSPECT

After reviewing CCTV footage, which showed the vehicle with the registration obscured, Reaction Unit South Africa officers began searching for the suspect. They searched several towns in Durban but yielded no results, forcing them to abandon the search.

Finally, after receiving a tip-off, the officers located the white Opel Corsa in Montford, Chatsworth at the suspect’s home. The suspect was found in his bedroom and was arrested.

SUSPECT SPEAKS OUT

During questioning by Reaction Officers, the suspect admitted he saw an opportunity to flee with the victim’s belongings while she was freshening up in the bathroom.

“He explained that he decided to speed off when the pensioner had become demanding financial assistance after they engaged in sexual intercourse at the Hazelmere Dam. He said that he was further infuriated when she questioned him regarding the use of a sex enhancement tablet,” Reaction Unit South Africa.

Speaking to The South African, when asked about the victim, Reaction Unit Spokesperson Prem Balram said that the victim is receiving support from her family.

“She chose to deal with it with her family. We handed her over to her son and sister who said they will offer her help,” said Balram.

The suspect later went to Sibaya Casino and lost R1600 in gambling.

The suspect is facing theft charges and is currently in custody.

SAFETY TIPS FOR ONLINE DATING

Online dating can sometimes involve dishonest individuals and scammers. Here are some important tips to consider when engaging in online dating:

• Inform a friend or family member about the location of your date and send them a screenshot of your date’s profile.
• For your first date, always meet in public and avoid meeting in isolated and private locations.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable or sceptical about your date, listen to your intuition and only go when you feel at ease.
• Be cautious of sexual comments or if your date constantly pressures you to send nude pictures. If most of your conversations are about sex, this is a sign that the person might have bad intentions towards you.

Have you or your loved one fallen victim to an online dating scam or robbery?

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