The Park Road Police station in Bloemfontein has launched a manhunt for notorious fraud suspect, Rodney Dudley Rippon. It is said that the 31-year-old suspect has been involved in a number of fraud cases, with the possibility of even adding more similar cases to his name.
On 3 March 2021 a warrant of arrest was issued by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court after several attempts to find him had failed.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, it is alleged that Rippon has committed fraud in Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth (Qqeberha) as well as East London.
“His modus operandi includes booking into a guesthouse and leaving without paying. At one of the guesthouses he left with a visitor’s laptop containing the person’s personal information, including bank details. Rippon used the information to apply for a loan amounting to R50 000 at one of the financial institutions, with several unsuccessful attempts of taking cellphone contracts as well,” said Makhele.
In another incident Rippon took a client’s car, which he was supposed to fix and sold it without the owner’s consent. In other cases Rippon advertised that he built Wendy houses. He took the deposits made by clients and disappeared.
Rippon was last seen in both Bloemfontein and the Eastern Cape. It is believed he is somewhere in the area of Port Elizabeth, East London or Bloemfontein.
Anyone with information which can lead to the arrest of Rodney Dudley Rippon, is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Warrant-Officer Robert Bookless, on the 076 520 4357 or 051 503 2700. Information can also be provided anonymously to the MySAPS app.
Compiled by Pierce van Heerden
