For those who - like me - have forgeooten, here's a whole lot of stuff from some ONW people last time:
"I have felt so foolish about this that I haven’t wanted to write at > > all, but lest others be conned, feel I’d better…… > > Last week there was a ring at the door and a young man (white, > > mid-30ish, alternatively dressed and with piercings and a bandanna) > > told me he was one of a group of artists in Hout Bay working to > > empower people in the informal settlement by having them make > > ‘dolls’ out of recycled materials. He persuaded me to come to the > > gate to see what he meant and I was suitably impressed by the > > ingenuity and creativity so that I bought one. I did ask him how it > > was that if he was selling them on behalf of others, how come he had > > only one. He had a quick response, part of which I’ve forgotten, > > but part of which was that he had been robbed previously when > > carrying too many. The doll has graced our lounge and I have > > enjoyed its presence, feeling that even if the story were not wholly > > true, this was a creative venture and worthy of support. > > A couple of days later I was surprised by the same young man at the > > gate saying he was now housesitting in the area and while moving > > into the house the door had slammed shut in the wind with the house > > keys inside. He protested he felt very foolish. Could I please > > phone his sister to ask her to bring his spare keys. At least I did > > not hand over the phone but phoned the number myself only to find > > that it went straight to voice mail with no facility to leave a > > message. Then, of course, he asked if I could help him with R40.00 > > to get to Hout Bay to collect the spare keys. He took off a cord > > round his neck from which dangled various talismans(men?) and > > offered this to me as security. He said he would return that > > afternoon. Completely gullible, I said, no, that I didn’t need > > ‘security’. (In hindsight, of course, why would he have spare keys > > in HB if he were housesitting in Rosebank….?) > > Needless to say I have not seen the R40.00 or the young man and the > > affection for the doll has palled more than a little….. Just to add > > that he was persuasive in an understated sort of way and had very > > slick answers for any queries. > > This was last year's report: > > "I have attached a photo of a gentleman who has done me out of R30: > > On Sunday 26th of October he came to our house and requested R50 to > > get a taxi back to Hout bay to get keys for the house he claimed to > > be sitting (no. 37 Alma Rd). I gave him R30 as I had bought a hand- > > made doll from him a few weeks back & we had a good conversation at > > the time. > > He said he would reimburse me the same evening he took the money- of > > course he has not returned to date. > > Kindly circulate the photo to alert the RNW (taken with his > > knowledge as a precaution on the day he received the money) of this > > situation/forward information on where I might be able to contact > > the gentleman." On May 27, 1:32 pm, "Michael Kempen" <[email protected]> wrote: > The Bandana Man was in Sussex Road about an hour ago. Please be cautious! > Give nothing. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
