Police have not yet made arrests in connection with the spate of laptop robberies around the country. The robberies, by the so-called "Laptop Gang", have been taking place in various provinces for some time.
Gang members reportedly gain access to businesses by posing as fire equipment inspectors. They wear red uniforms with the name Firetech CC on them and claim to have been sent by the fire department to examine fire-fighting equipment. Once inside, the gang steals laptops and other computer accessories.
In the latest reported robbery, the gang stole a number of laptops and cellphones at Momentum Life`s Durban offices last week. Momentum became aware of the robbery when staff members began asking what had happened to their laptops and cellphones.
Durban police spokesperson Michael Read says no arrests have been made, but identikits are being drawn up.
"The gang stole about seven laptops and some cellphones. We`ve also had one or two similar reports from other companies in Durban," Read says.
Firetech manager Val Groom says the company first became aware of the gang last year and has since been contacted by several companies from Sandton, Midrand, Pretoria, Durban and Bloemfontein.
"We have received calls from irate companies all round the country after they have had equipment stolen. I have to inform them that our company only operates in the Pretoria region and we don`t just send inspectors out, we have clients to whom we provide fire-fighting equipment."
Groom says the police have been unable to make a breakthrough in the case.
"The case is dead; police aren`t able to do anything. Last year I was called to Sunnyside police station to identify some of the uniforms, but when I got there the police said they couldn`t find the uniforms. Our uniforms aren`t red anyway."
Groom says gang members sometimes wear Telkom uniforms and one of them often uses the name Jonathan as a reference when speaking to receptionists.
"If companies are approached by people in Firetech uniforms wanting to check their fire-fighting equipment, they should contact the police immediately," she says.
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