The Johannesburg Metro Centre was targeted by an alleged burglar who, in the wee hours of Monday, was caught in the midst of a data heist.
Johannesburg Metro Centre robbery: Here’s what we know
More startling, the suspect was identified as a woman and, according to City of Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, she may be the elusive burglar who broke into the Metro Centre and made off 30 computer hard drives on 24 January 2022.
In an interview with eNCA, Phalatse revealed she received a phone call from the Metro Centre at approximately 02:00 and security officials informed her of the arrest of a woman who was caught on camera, attempting to steal hard drives in the electoral commission office.
“As soon as I heard there was somebody there, I went through to the Metro Centre and, indeed, there is a woman, there is a backpack with hardware, hard drives as well as some information chips and a few other things. This time, [she] broke into the IEC office, allegedly. So, there’s about five computers on the floor that these hard drives were taken out of,” Phalatse said.
The Joburg mayor also confirmed investigators are in the process of finding links between Monday’s burglary attempt and the data heist pulled off on 24 January 2022.
Thus far, however, circumstantial evidence, including surveillance footage, suggests the woman was, in all likelihood, involved in both cases.
Phalatse also mentioned that authorities will look as far back as 2020 at a similar case involving the suspect that, back then, was thrown out of court due to a lack of evidence.
It is unclear, at this stage, if the woman was acting alone.
“The suspect was spotted by patrolling security personnel while she was trying to break an emergency exit door. The guard then requested for backup from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). When backup finally arrived, the building was searched from the second floor and she was found hiding behind a door of an office that she allegedly broke into as well,” the City of Johannesburg revealed in a statement.
The identity of the suspect is not yet known. All we know, at this stage, is that she is 38 years old is listed under five companies as a service provider for the Joburg metro.
The woman is expected to appear at the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court soon, where she will be formally charged with possession of stolen goods, trespassing and business robbery.