In a significant breakthrough for the elderly community in Phoenix, a suspect believed to be behind a string of scams targeting pensioners has been apprehended by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA). The arrest follows a relentless 72-hour search conducted by their officers.

The suspect, who is not being identified until he has been formally charged, was arrested on Monday afternoon in Westham, Phoenix.

Prem Balram said RUSA officers, acting on intelligence, surrounded the home of the 40-year-old Indian man who has been robbing and scamming the elderly in the Verulam CBD, and found him hiding in the ceiling.

Mr Balram said last week, their Operations Centre received multiple calls that an Indian man had approached pensioners in the Verulam CBD and was posing as a long lost family friend.

“He would target the elderly, and convincingly ask them about their spouses, their children and other family members and then scam them of thousands of rands.

“A 75-year-old woman was held at knifepoint when she realised that she was been scammed. She was forced into a white Toyota Conquest with registration ND 621 391 and taken to two ATMs to withdraw cash.

“When the withdrawal was declined she was taken to a supermarket and forced to draw cash at the till point. The robbery was captured on camera. The suspect wore a mask and was not easily identified,” said Mr Balram.

He said their officers worked over the weekend with the information at hand and on Monday, found the white Toyota Conquest used in the robbery.

“After a brief observation, officers surrounded a residence in Wesham in Unit 12, Phoenix and noticed the suspect attempting to jump out a rear window from a double-storey home.

“He then abandoned the attempt when he noticed that officers had surrounded the property. When Reaction Officers entered the premises the man could not be located. Officers based several roads away and were keeping observation through binoculars noticed tiles being removed from the roof. The suspect was approached via a bathroom ceiling and he refused to exit when instructed. The stand-off between the suspect and the officers lasted approximately 30 minutes. During the conversation he offered Reaction Officers a bribe of R50 000 in cash for his release,” said Mr Balram.

The suspect was then arrested and handed over to the Verulam SAPS.

Soon after the suspect’s arrest and social media reports of his arrest were made public, at least eight more pensioners contacted RUSA to report their ordeal with the suspect.

“At least eight more pensioners, ranging between the ages of 65 and 80, recounted similar encounters with the perpetrator,” Mr Balram said.

RUSA and Verulam SAPS are working together on this case and the suspect is expected to appare in court soon.

The suspect tried to evade RUSA officers by hiding in the ceiling.

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