Brother Raises Alarm After Joburg Thieves Use Sneaky Tactic to Target His Sister in Video
- A Johannesburg man sparked concern on social media after sharing a video exposing a frightening tactic used by thieves to target unsuspecting people
- The clip drew widespread reactions, with many viewers sharing similar experiences and highlighting the growing safety concerns in Johannesburg
- Crime statistics and community responses underscored ongoing fears about evolving criminal methods and the need for heightened vigilance
A Johannesburg man has sparked concern on social media after sharing a video exposing a frightening tactic used by thieves to target unsuspecting people.
Source: TikTok
The short but alarming clip, which quickly gained traction online, shows the aftermath of an attempted robbery involving his sister.
In the video, the man who goes by the TikTok handle @neo.nj0107 revealed the handbag his sister had been carrying when thieves tried to rob her. The bag had been cut open from the back with a knife, leaving a long gash where the criminals attempted to gain access to her belongings without her noticing.
He explained that the thieves had tried to steal her phone and money, but their mission failed. The visibly shaken brother warned others to stay alert by saying the following in the clip published on 12 November 2025.
"Guys, watch out. Jozi is dangerous. Look what they did to my sister, they wanted to take the phone and the money."
The TikTok user @neo.nj0107 moved many viewers, who shared their own experiences and fears about the rising crime in Johannesburg’s busy public spaces. Many commended him for raising awareness and urged others to pay close attention to the technique used by the criminals.
Johannesburg faces significant personal and property security challenges, according to SB Security, as reflected in early 2025 Gauteng crime stats. Although property crimes, such as residential burglary (down 16.3%) and robbery at residential premises (down 5.4%), show slight declines in Q3 2024/25, high-impact violent crimes are increasing.
The January-March 2025 data indicate that Gauteng has the highest kidnapping cases in South Africa (2,086) and a marked incidence of armed robbery (33) alongside KwaZulu-Natal.
Despite a 10.8% decrease in murders (1,439), the prevalence of violent crimes indicates a shift towards more confrontational criminal tactics, highlighting the importance for homeowners to remain aware of evolving crime trends.
Source: TikTok
SA reacts to Joburg thieves using sneaky trick
The online community took to the comments section to express their thoughts on Johannesburg thieves' sneaky trick, saying:
Double_Dee# Madame said:
"We don't put phone and money in the bag at Jozi 🥺."
Flora Moloi shared:
"That happened to me last year."
Queens and Kings Royalty stated:
"I always leave my phone at home and put my handbag inside a grocery bag."
Busi expressed:
"Jozi, you don't trust everyone 🙄."
Porsch commented:
"They did that to me in 2002, Mabopane station😢😢. I did not even notice only when I got off. By then, I had only the exact amount to go home."
Watch the video below:
More crime stories in South Africa, Briefly News
- A tourist who had been in South Africa for three months was left devastated after being robbed in Cape Town. She shared her heartbreaking story online.
- South Africans were left stunned over a disturbing incident of daylight robbery caught on camera, showing a female runner being mugged on a quiet suburban street.
- A woman from Cape Town, Sphiwe Ntlenathi, wowed many South Africans with her story of being robbed.
Source: Briefly News
