A 66-year-old female was robbed after meeting a man for their first date on Wednesday.Â
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called out to a service station on the north of Durban around 14:22 to assist the stranded woman.
Chatting on dating site
On arrival, she informed Reaction Officers that she had been chatting with an unknown male on dating site Badoo for three months.Â
Their conversation thereafter transitioned to WhatsApp after they exchanged telephone numbers.
The man identified himself as a 54-year-old mechanic named Salim who owned a mechanical workshop in Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal.
During their most recent conversation on Tuesday night, the female informed the man that she needed to withdraw a SASSA Old-Age Grant for her and her 84-year-old mother.
The male offered to transport her to an ATM prior to them going on their first date.Â
The male fetched her near her home in the South of Durban.
He was driving a white Opel Corsa.
They proceeded to a Galleria Mall in Amanzimtoti where the female withdrew both grants.Â
Once they were done, the male suggested that they proceed to Hazelmere Dam to relax.
The dam is approximately 61km from the mall.
Upon arrival they spent three hours at the recreational facility.
They thereafter decided to purchase a meal and travelled to a service station.
The victim informed the driver that she needed to utilise the ablution facility and freshen up before having her meal.
The driver stopped the vehicle on the forecourt.Â
Handbag was later recovered
He informed her that he would park the vehicle, but drove off once the pensioner exited and walked towards the toilets.
Her handbag containing R2 000 in cash, her mother’s identity document, ATM cards and cellphone was in the car.
The handbag was later recovered near a casino.Â
Reaction Officers obtained CCTV footage of the vehicle from the service station.
Officers managed to obtain a registration of the vehicle used by the suspect.Â
The suspect is believed to have scammed several other females seeking companionship.
Reaction Officers are currently tracking the suspect.Â
The victim has registered a criminal case.
Have you every been robbed? How did it happen?
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