“Catch me if you can, why are people bothering me?” And that is what the Hawks intend to do after this daring message was posted on the Facebook page of an alleged conman and rapist who preys on unsuspecting models.

The message was posted this week by a man calling himself Thomas Bester, the alias the criminal most commonly uses.

When asked whether Bester’s action could escalate to him murdering his victims, Lieutenant-Colonel Anton Booysen, KZN head of the Psychologically Motivated Crimes Unit, said: “I can’t say for sure, but there’s a possibility that it might progress to that. We fear that he is progressing in terms of the crimes he is committing and that he is becoming more violent.”

Booysen said a warrant for the arrest of Bester – believed to be in his early 20s – had been obtained and they yesterday released a picture of Bester, who uses a string of aliases, including Nathan Bradley Cleopaths, Kenny Young and Magagula.

Since Bester’s identikit was released last week, Booysen said police had been inundated with calls from women who claim they had been swindled by him.

Nokuthula Khumalo, one of Bester’s alleged victims, was robbed of a laptop and cellphone. When she was shown a photograph of the man yesterday, she said, “Yes that’s him!”

Last week Khumalo said of Bester, “He was well-presented and well-spoken, his dress was smart casual… He even encouraged us to ask questions. He hadn’t done anything to create doubt in my mind.”

While it was initially believed Bester ran his scam from Durban, Joburg and Cape Town, Booysen said police had also received reports from the Free State.

“We can’t really pinpoint where he’s from because he’s told so many people so many lies, but he seems to be very familiar with Joburg and Durban,” said Booysen, adding that Bester had various ID numbers.

Bester, who uses the same modus operandi to allegedly lure unsuspecting young women, made headlines last month when he was accused of raping a Joburg model in an Umhlanga hotel.

“He advertised on the internet for young women seeking to pursue a career in modelling. He then travels with them from one part of the country to another and makes the victims pay for his and their expenses promising them reimbursements once they reach their destination,” said Booysen.

“He makes them book into hotels or bed and breakfasts for a few days. He takes their laptops, iPods and cellphones away, saying he needs to have them scanned for security reasons or that he needs their undivided attention. He then vanishes, does not settle his hotel bill and steals the unsuspecting girls’ valuable items.”

Speaking about last month’s rape, Booysen said the 24-year-old model had responded to one of Bester’s many e-mails and with her boyfriend met him in the foyer of a building at Auckland Park, Joburg.

“He is such a good conman that he conned both of them to allow the girl to travel in her car all the way to Durban. He even pretended to be making phone calls from her phone for hairdo and nail bookings.

“He said all costs incurred by her would be paid back once they reach Durban. He made her drive directly to the City Lodge in Umhlanga, where he made her shower, dress up, do some modelling. He then tied her up, cut her face and raped her before vanishing with her valuables.”

A case was opened with the Durban North police.

The victim’s mother, Penny, who has since set up a Facebook group to warn other girls about the man and how he operates, said this week she was scared that he could get even more violent. - Saturday Star

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