****** phone

I went to Mr Price Sport Tygervalley on Saturday 31st December 2022 at approximately 13:20. When I entered the store, I had my phone, wallet and car keys with me. I took a basket and put my phone, wallet and car keys inside the basket. I proceeded and took a shorts and sport bras that were displayed in the front isle. I put these items in my basket. While I was busy a lady staff member came and asked if I needed any assistance to which I answered, “I’m fine”. She then advised that they are currently having a sale. I then asked what’s on sale and she pointed at the various sections. Whilst we were talking, I realized the basket handle was broken, to which she gladly assisted as she fetched me a new basket. She put both baskets on the floor and transferred the items to the new basket. While she was doing that she asked if I saw the R10 bags on sale and I asked her to show me. She pointed at the bags and then immediately said let me show you where they are. She handed me the basket whilst on our way. When we got there, I saw a laptop bag for R10 and grabbed it and put in my basket. I also saw a black gym bag for R50 which I also took. She then advised that there is a nicer one also selling for R 50. She kept it aside for herself, but she thinks it is a better fit for me and that she will fetch it. She came back with the bag, and I really liked it, so I took it. I thanked her. I then walked towards the fitting room, when I saw shorts and I took two sets of sizes and put them in the basket. When I got to the fitting room, I was told to take the items I will fit, and they cannot exceed 6 items. I then reached inside the basket for my belongings, my car keys first, I got them, I also took my wallet and when I reached for my phone it wasn’t there. I removed all the items from the basket and my phone wasn’t there. I immediately proceeded with my basket to the lady that was assisting me and asked her “Where is my phone as you were the only person who touched my items while swopping baskets for me” she said she doesn’t know! The Assistant manager came and asked if I lost my phone I said YES, he asked which one, I told him an IPHONE 14 Plus and he was stunned and said “This cannot happen, it is now a second iPhone in 1 week “implying that there was another phone lost in the same shop within a week. He then asked for my number so he could call it, at that moment the lady that was assisting me, said she also has an IPHONE, she will fetch it to help me track my phone and she ran to the back. While she was gone, one of the male staff members called my phone it rang once and went to voicemail, when he called it again it went straight to voicemail. The Assistant Manager came with an IPAD to assist with tracking my phone. While we were busy doing that the lady that was assisting me came back without her cellphone that she supposedly went to fetch, and she said she doesn’t have data. The lady who was assisting me requested for my alternative number as she said she knows people that can track IPHONE. She will help me, so I gave her my work cellphone number. The Assistance manager and the two staff members helped to track my phone and it was offline on iCloud. I, then went to iStore at Tygervalley mall so that they can track it from their side, but they couldn’t as it was switched off, and I asked them to lock it as it has been ******. I went back to Mr Price sport Tygervalley so that I could ask management to search her, due to the fact she was the only person that engaged with me whilst in the store till the moment my phone was gone. When I got there the Assistant Manager and some staff members informed me that they are suspecting her as they saw that she was with me the whole time, however I was told that she went on lunch, at that time I received a notification on iCloud that my phone has been found, meaning the phone was switched on again which happened while she was no longer at the shop.

I tried calling it and it was ringing. When I tracked the location, it was now in Cape town CBD near a cellular repair shop according to the map. During this time, whilst all this was happening, she called me and said I should urgently send her my phone details: The IMEI number and the iCloud login details. According to her the person whom she knows would track it was waiting for those details. I had put her on loudspeaker as I was with the store management. I told her I don’t know those details and she said when I get home, I should take a picture of the box with IMEI number urgently. I said OKAY and she hung up, she further sent me a WhatsApp message requesting my phone login details so she can track it at her capacity. Store Management took my contact details and said they will investigate and give me feedback. Later in the day when I checked the number that she texted me with on WhatsApp and found out that she is using business WhatsApp for selling clothes and iPhones. From there she never texted me again, I only keep receiving spam links requesting my phone login details. I escalated that information to the store management as for me this was appalling. I was shocked to be informed that there’s no footage as there are no security cameras at the store.

I met with Mr. Price sport Tygervalley Area manager a week later, since then I have not received conclusive feedback as to how this matter will be resolved. I’m informed they are investigating only when I follow up and it’s almost a month since the incident happened.

The last time I checked she never came back to work after the incident, and I feel that by me entering their store I put myself at risk, in actual fact all customers are at risk when entering that store.

I need my phone replaced and Mr price sport Tygervalley should be accountable and hold principle as this was done by their employee while on duty inside their shop where I as a customer should be safe. PLEASE HELP