Point raid nets 600 'stolen' cellphones

By Barbara Cole

Police swooped on second-hand cellphone shops throughout the Point area of Durban on Wednesday, confiscating about 600 phones and countless accessories - and shutting down six businesses.

The entire haul netted in the special early morning raid is thought to have been stolen, said South African Police Services Senior Superintendent Leon Matthysen of the Point Police Station.

Several men were arrested and will appear in court on Thursday, charged with allegedly handling stolen property.

"We are taking this very seriously. There is no admission of guilt for this type of offence."

With 90 percent of robberies in the Point involving cellphones, the area is a hotbed for stolen phones.

"The cellphones have to be going somewhere. Some are even selling for as much as R4 000," said Matthysen.

The SAPS, together with Point detective service, Metro police and a cellphone forensic expert, Carl Griesse, decided to crack down on shops suspected of handling stolen phones and mounted the surprise operation.

Officers were in position outside businesses across the area as owners and staff arrived to open their shops.

Then the police swooped, confiscating cellphones, as well as a wad of ID books, credit cards, fax machines and a laptop computer.