The theft of wheels from motor vehicles, be it spare wheels or any of the four wheels of a vehicle, continues to be an attraction for thieves prowling the streets of Laudium, either on foot or driving in cars, looking out for an opportunity to pounce on unattended vehicles.
It is evident that thieves require only a few minutes to strip a wheel from a vehicle and are neither bothered by pedestrians passing by, nor passing cars. However, thankfully, with the assistance of a vigilant resident, police managed to catch a gang involved in the stealing of motor vehicle wheels in Laudium, soon after the spare wheel of a vehicle owned by a resident, was targeted. Hopefully, the suspects will be successfully prosecuted in court.
One of the latest victims of wheel theft, resident Irfan Tanveer, of 13th Avenue, Laudium, detailed his shock when he discovered that a few minutes’ visit to a local bakery on Tangerine Street, to buy bread, cost him the loss of his vehicle’s spare wheel. Irfaan told the Laudium Sun, “Last Tuesday evening, at around 7pm, I went to Sulemania Bakery at the Laudium Hotel complex on Tangerine Street, to buy bread and other items, as I wanted something fast to eat. I parked my Silver Toyota Hilux Legend 4X4, in front of the bakery. Whilst inside the bakery, I met a few friends and spoke to them for about 3 minutes. When I went back to my vehicle, I did not notice anything strange, but as I reversed, I heard a funny noise. When I went out to check, I was shocked to find that the clamp holding the spare wheel under my vehicle, at the back of my 4×4, was loose and the spare wheel was missing. I just can’t understand how these thieves could be so daring to steal the wheel, as the area, which also has shops across the road, was busy at the time. Fortunately there are CCTV cameras in the area and when I checked the footage, it showed that there was a car, a white Toyota Avanza, parked right behind my vehicle. I think the thieves were from that car, as the way they parked it, passing cars or even pedestrians would not have noticed them whilst they were stealing my spare wheel. I immediately informed the police and gave them a description of the suspects’ car. I have now heard that a few days later, the police managed to catch the gang that was seen in Laudium. Crime in Laudium is too high. One can never be safe, even when you just want to go and quickly buy yourself something to eat. It is so shameful that a beautiful place like Laudium is becoming a no-go zone.”
Sergeant Simon Chokoe, of the Laudium SAPS, said, “Laudium police received information that thieves in a white Toyota Avanza, were stealing tyres. The vehicle was spotted on Military Road and was stopped. Upon searching the vehicle, police found a number of wheels suspected to be stolen. Two suspects, aged 26 and 30, were immediately arrested. On further investigation, police went to premises in Atteridgeville and another nine wheels and tyres were found. We are investigating whether the two suspects were also involved in the spate of previous tyre thefts. Working together with the community, we can make our area a safer place.”
