Cellphone theft video goes viral

ONE of the oldest forms of crime, pickpocketing, was thrust into the social media spotlight at the weekend after a cellphone was nicked from a Port Elizabeth pupil distracted by a rugby-related ruse.

CCTV footage of the brazen incident, which was captured at the Fiveways SPAR off Cape Road shortly before 4.30pm on Friday, was going viral by yesterday afternoon.

There were 15 322 views and 477 shares on the Herald Live website – and a further 73 000 views and 1 625 shares of the video posted on the victim’s mother’s Facebook page.

Grey High School pupil, Jaundre Venter, 18, was robbed of a R16 000 Samsung Galaxy S8, which he had received from his father, Pieter, just four days earlier.

Pieter Venter, 45, of Lorraine said the incident took place shortly after his son had completed an exam at the nearby school.

“My son and his friends had left school and were on their way home, when they decided to stop at the SPAR,” Venter said.

“When they were walking in, he [Jaundre] said he saw the guys standing there, but thought that the guy knew his friend, because he tapped [knock on the shoulder] his friend first. The guy then asked Jaundre why his school blazer was a different colour.”

Venter said the suspect then made comments about the boys’ physical appearance, stating that they looked like rugby players.

“That’s when the guy pretended to tackle Juandre, like a rugby tackle, and the phone was taken,” Venter said. “My son is still upset by the incident.”

Venter said the phone was traced to Central, before the Sim card was removed from the phone.

The footage can be viewed on HeraldLive.co.za