Yet again, residents of Laudium are complaining of the high crime in the area and are really concerned that despite curfew restrictions due to Covid-19, criminals appear to still freely be roaming the streets and committing crimes right under the noses of police, who are suspected of being office-bound, instead of out patrolling, during curfew times. 

Frustrated residents say that if the local police were in fact doing their job of serving and protecting residents, crime committed, at least during curfew hours, would be zero, as no person is allowed to be on the streets, unless they have a compelling reason. Despite the curfew, police have failed to curb crime, even that which is committed during curfew hours. In one of the latest incidents of crime committed during curfew hours, a tenant living on the corner of Jewel Str and 19th Ave, explained to the Laudium Sun, his ordeal that took place the previous Thursday, during the early hours of the morning. Abdulhamid Mabena, explained that when he went to bed, just at around midnight, all was well at his flat and in the yard, as he had checked the surroundings, as he usually does, before going to bed. He added, “After waking up just past 4:00 in the morning for my early morning Fajr prayer, I decided to go outside just to check if everything was still okay and also to get some fresh air. I was completely taken aback when I saw that my vehicle, which was parked inside the yard, had been broken into. I could not understand how it was possible, as the property is well secured with palisade fencing and even has additional electric fencing. I assume that the thief or thieves had jumped the gate or the fence and somehow bypassed the electric fencing, by throwing a blanket over it or something else. They managed to get into my white Toyota Hilux, by breaking the driver’s side back-window. They stole my cellphone, some clothes, my ID and the vehicle’s battery. I am very shocked and broken, as I never expected them to get into the yard, because of all the security measures that were taken. If I knew that the yard was a security risk, I would not have kept my second cellphone inside the vehicle, which battery I charge up whilst driving. These thieves clearly do as they want and when they want. What is very surprising is that the incident took place, for sure, during the curfew hours, between midnight and 4am, which means that these thieves do not care about curfew, when there are no persons on the streets. They were not even afraid that they could have easily been detected by the cops, had the cops been doing their job of patrolling. Crime in our area was not that bad before, but now, I hear about crime on a regular basis. Either a car battery is stolen, or it’s a burglary or an armed robbery. Something needs to be done urgently, in order to stop this horrible crime that is spreading within our community. It is very unfortunate that we, as residents, have to live in fear each day, without any peace, even while we are at home or sleeping. What kind of a life is this? We are prisoners in our own homes. I hope that the police will increase street patrols and stop and search blitzes, more so during curfew times, so that no one can walk on our streets, without first being checked.”

Sergeant Simon Chokoe, of the Laudium SAPS said, “A case of theft from a vehicle has been opened and police are investigating the matter. Remember, if you see anyone suspicious on your street, report it immediately to the police. Also, a reminder to residents to always lock their vehicles, even when parked inside their yard and to not keep anything valuable inside. The police will continue with patrolling the streets. Working together, we can stop crime.”