The management of a historic Cape Town mosque is calling on the public to piemp a skelm who was caught on camera stealing shoes during Maghrib salaah on Wednesday.
Abdullah January, the treasurer of Mughammadiyyah Masjied in Salt River, says during evening prayers on Wednesday two musallees got a skrik when they could not find their shoes and were forced to walk home on their socks.
A video of the incident has been shared on social media showing the brazen dief wearing a red jacket, blue jeans and a white fez walking to the men’s shoe shelves and stealing two pairs, stuffing one pair down his pants.
“He came in wearing sloffies and while people were praying, he stole a pair of takkies and black formal shoes,” says January.
“On the footage you can see the owner of the takkies put each shoe in a different place (as a preventative measure) but the thief actually went looking for the other shoe.”
January says while they’ve installed cameras to deter skelms, there’s been several thefts.
“We cannot open a case, the owners of the shoes need to register cases but we are calling on the public to help identify this man,” he says.
“From what we have gathered he is not from Salt River but apparently lives in Kalksteenfontein.
“We want to warn other mosques and churches to be aware of him.”
Anyone with information can call January on 021 447 4484.
THEFT: Mosque in Salt River