Pension Theft at shoprite for a 76 year old women and they did nothing

Theft for a 76 year old women at Shoprite,

Am typing this email with great sadness and disappointment to the core of my bones, my mother was a victim of crime at one of your stores and she was treated like dirt, no statement taken, and she was told to go and open a case the nearest police station which is 30 km away from the mall with no money.

This incident happened at Elim mall Shoprite in Limpopo.

She lost the rest of her pension balance and her 3 months old smart phone. We are talking about a 76-year-old proud South African mother of 7.

She withdrew her pension funds this morning to pay her stuff. She then decided to get a couple of essentials at her favourite store at shoprite Elim mall. Little did she know that she was about to become a victim of theft inside a well-protected store.

As she was about to pay for her goods, she realised that her wallet and smartphone were missing from her purse. This happened between 09:30am to 10:30am on the 02nd of September 2022.

She then notified the nearest shoprite personnel on the floor as she was still in shock, she told me that she was denied access to CCTV footage. They told her that these things happen, and she must just open a case. Keeping in mind that that is about 20-30 kilometres away. Am under the impression that all shoprite stores have security and they are capable of taking a statement and should they find someone *****ing they can also contact the police for a possible arrest. In her case all her bank cards were in her wallet along with her cash and cell phone. In other words, a 76-year-old was expected to walk 30 kilometres to the nearest police station to report her crime.

She was later assisted by someone she knew from one of the shops that gave her R20 taxi fare. As we speak this matter is closed at the store, as they didn’t even bother to take her details and statement.

I decided to google the contact numbers for the store *** in which I was greeted by disappointment as I was transferred 3 times to the manager who was not picking up. On the fourth call a Gettleman by the name of Derrick who introduced himself as a manger picked up the call, who by the way refused to give me his surname. I explained the situation as my mother explained and he just advised me that it is above his pay grade and referred me to another manager who was supposed to call me after 2 minutes. 20 minutes later I indeed received a call as I left my cell number.

A gentleman who only introduced himself as Manager Rikhotso, politely listened to my second explanation. He then responds that he personally received a case of some sort this morning regarding an elderly woman who was ****** inside shoprite Elim mall. He told me that they asked my mother where she was at the store (a shocked 76-year-old who was still shaking) then his team reviewed that footage based on the places that she advised.

He further explained to me that they didn’t find anything. They did everything possible to assist her and when she asked about her bank cards and ID, they referred her to the police station.

I questioned the statement as I don’t believe that first he was talking about her as he didn’t know her names, proving that they didn’t even take her statement down. I also asked if they reviewed the security cameras from her point of entry until she was ready to pay for her goods at the till. That was not done.

I asked what exactly the manager did at the store to assist a 76-year-old victim at their store, but I didn't get an answer. I asked if the store policy includes sending victims for a 30 kilometres walk to report their crimes that happened inside their stores, I also didn’t get an answer.

I expressed my frustrations as nothing has been done from the store to look into this matter. This is her pension fund. My mother also told me that she suspects that one of the employees ****** her as she is always careful about who gets close to her. The only person that could have pulled the phone and wallet out her purse is someone that she couldn’t suspect and that’s an employee.

She also told me that when she tried to enquire: the matter was just brushed off, as she was told to open a case as these things happen.

To me all of this sounds like this kind of crime always happens at this store and the employees are involved. They are robbing the elderly every month for personal gain and the management is doing nothing about it. No statement taken, nothing. No effort whatsoever was made to try and assist.

Am pleading for a full investigation of this matter as I included shoprite head office, ombudsman, SAPS and others. My heart is heavily broken on this matter. How many old women are being ****** at this store, security is doing nothing, the management is doing nothing. Hopefully the head office will probe into this matter.

Am prepared to escalate this matter to any highest institute until me and my family find closure. Most important: women of South Africa are victims of crime every day. This store is not doing justice to our women, they were simply waiting for women’s month to end then start *****ing from the elderly women.

With a heavy heart and disappointment.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards