By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Members of flying squad unit together with Bravo relief member nabbed three men and two women aged between 25 and 48 in the city after they fraudulently hit hard cellphones retailers in the city yesterday. 

“When they were asked about their origins they told the police that they are from Gauteng. They only came here yesterday to hit hard the retailers around Northern Cape, more particularly Kimberley” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. 

“Furthermore after they allegedly committed fraud in the city, they will be heading to Bloemfontein to continue their evil deeds there” Tawana said. 

“The suspects were in possession of more than five fraudulent Identity Documents, which they have been using to open credit accounts in many retailers including cellphones retailers” police said. 

“One of the suspects was in possession of two Identity Documents, which she depicted her ID photos with totally different names and ID numbers” Tawana adds.

One of the retailers alerted the police after becoming suspicious of an Identity Document which one of the suspects used to make a new application to upgrade the existing contract phone. 

The vigilant service provider noticed that something is not up to standard with the ID that the client had presented, and the applicant had already made a successful application from another retailer earlier during the day with the very same ID. 

The suspect was arrested inside the retailer while he was still waiting for the application to be processed. 

When the police interrogate him, he told the police that he is not solo in this scam.

 “He is together with his crew and they are waiting for him outside in a white Nissan Hard Body bakkie with GP registration number plates” police said. 

The police arrested his accomplices in a Nissan bakkie on the N12 just outside the Northern Cape Mall. Thorough investigation and search was conducted inside the bakkie, four fraudulent Identity Documents were found hidden inside the speaker box.

Expensive cellphones such as Blackberry Z10, I Phone 5, Motorola as well as Samsung SIII Galaxy phone, still sealed in boxes which they obtained from the retailers using the fraudulent Identity Documents were consficated. 

More than ten second hand cellphones, bank debit cards and credit cards also found in their possession were also confiscated as well as the Nissan bakkie.  

The suspects are due to appear the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon on fraud charges.  

Investigation continues.