Heroic priest catches card scammer red-handed in Athlone

A local priest has caught an alleged card scammer red-handed, making a citizen’s arrest inside a bottle store after being in pursuit of the suspect who stole one of his parish members' cards at an ATM.

Father Michael Williams of the Anglican Catholic Church said he was accompanying one of his parish members on Wednesday -  a 75-year-old man, to the ATM in Kromboom Road in Athlone, when they were approached by a black male who pretended to assist them.

“When we got to the Nedbank ATM, it was not working and we decided to use the Standard Bank ATM,” said Father Williams.

“I was wearing my collar as a priest and I was singing and this man commented on my voice.

“We struggled to put the card into the ATM and he said he can help.

“He had notes (money) in his hands and was placing the parish member’s card into the ATM.”

Father Williams said the next moment, he told them they could enter the PIN and walked away.

“When we tried to put the pin in, it didn't want to work and we asked a man behind us if he was also going to withdraw money when we realised there was no card in the ATM.”

“I said to the parish member: 'I think your pension has been wiped'."

Father Williams then jumped into action in pursuit of the thief using his vehicle and found him entering a bottle store in the same community.

“I ran inside and I said 'now we have him',” explained Father Williams.

“I was in the bottle store, collar (priest attire) and all.

“I said to the security do not let him out

“I asked the thief where this man’s card was and he took it out of his left pocket.

“I said you 'are a thief, you are going nowhere'.”

Father Williams then made a citizen’s arrest and told the security not to allow the man to leave and contacted the police.

“I said 'try and run but we will get you',” he added.

“The police arrived within an hour and they found more cards on him and over R4 000 in cash.

“I am just glad he is off the streets because he is robbing pensioners.

“He was handcuffed and taken away by the police and the parish member was able to withdraw his pension.”

Lansdowne police confirmed the man’s arrest.

SAPS spokesperson, Aneliswe Manyana, said a case of theft was under investigation.

“We can confirm that Lansdowne police opened a theft case for further investigation following an incident on Wednesday at around 12:30 in Kromboom Road,” she said.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus