A Cautionary Tale: How A Kind Gesture Turned Into A Theft At Menlyn Mall
- A TikTok video sharing a woman's unsettling experience at Menlyn Mall has gone viral.
- She recounted how her phone was stolen during a seemingly innocent interaction with a couple asking for directions.
- South Africans chimed in with their own stories, warning others about the growing menace of clever criminals.
Hey there, friends. Let me tell you about a real-life situation that happened at Menlyn Mall in Pretoria. A young woman working in one of the stores shared a story that has sparked a lot of conversation on social media. She posted a TikTok video detailing how her phone was stolen after an encounter with a couple who seemed lost. Now, this isn’t just a random incident—it’s a wake-up call for all of us to be more vigilant, especially in crowded places like shopping malls.
It All Started with a Simple Request
The woman began her TikTok video by describing how it all started. A couple approached her, asking for directions to Checkers, a well-known supermarket chain. She thought nothing of it and offered to guide them there. In her mind, it was just a simple act of kindness. However, as they walked, she began to feel uneasy, though she couldn’t quite figure out why.
Once she had shown them the way and returned to her post, she realized that her phone was missing. Looking back, she understood what had happened. The couple had cleverly used her distraction to their advantage, managing to steal her phone without her even noticing. It’s a stark reminder of how easily we can be taken advantage of when we let our guard down, even for a moment.
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Crafty Criminals Are on the Prowl
In her TikTok video, shared on the account @natefo_m, she gave some stern advice to her viewers. She warned everyone to be cautious when interacting with strangers. These days, thieves are getting smarter, and they can be anyone—children, elderly people, or even couples like the ones she encountered. She emphasized that we should trust our instincts and not let our guard down, no matter how harmless a situation might seem.
Check out the video she posted below:
Community Reacts to Her Story
Her story struck a chord with many South Africans, who flooded the comments section with their own experiences and advice. It’s clear that incidents like this are becoming more common, and people are growing increasingly concerned about safety in public spaces like malls. Here’s what some users had to say:
@WinnyOsborne joked:
"Even when you see your mom, just keep walking. Don’t greet her back. Stay focused. You’ll greet each other at home."
@Aisha said:
"Treat Menlyn Mall like Joburg CBD. Trust nobody, suspect everybody!"
@D_Mongad shared:
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"The same thing happened to me at Festival Mall. They didn’t even steal it—they tricked me into handing it over and withdrawing R3,000 for them. 😭😭😭"
@Mr&Mrs_phahla wrote:
"The same thing happened to me at Wonderpark last year in March. In just 10 minutes, they took my groceries and my iPhone 13 Pro. 😭
