A Zimbabwean cashier was arrested on charges of contravening the Electronic Communications Act. Photo: SAPS

HOPEFIELD: Not even sleepy Hopefield escapes crime. The Hawks swooped down on the small West Coast town yesterday afternoon and arrested a 24-year-old Zimbabwean restaurant cashier who had allegedly compromised customers’ bank cards data using an illegal point of sale device.

According to the South African Police Force “The arrest followed several complaints in the past two months from victims who suffered substantial financial losses after visiting the same restaurant.” The complaints resulted in an investigation by the Commercial Crime Unit of the Hawks.

“One unauthorised point of sale device was found in the suspect’s possession as well as two bank cards with questionable authenticity,” reports the police. News of the cashier’s arrest prompted outraged comments on social media, with one person asking, “Has he or she got a visa to be here or is he/she just another free for all fence jumper? Name the restaurant or place this happened at…” Someone else remarked pragmatically, “S/he’s an idiot! Hopefield is a tiny place – s/he won’t find other work there now! For a place so small, if you can get work, you do all you can to keep it, don’t mess it up!”

The suspect is expected to appear in the Hopfield magistrate’s court today on charges of contravening the Electronic Communications Act.