It is totally unacceptable that our local police are hiding crime stats and even crime trends, committed in the area.
In theory, according to their guidelines, police are supposed to partner with the community in the fight against crime in the area. But clearly the Laudium police do not seem to believe in that and are not interested in putting the policy into practice. It is worrying that our local police are not doing much to fight crime, such as taking action against the many nyaopes in the area, many of whom are alleged to be involved in criminal activities in the area. Police are silent on crime stats and are not even bothering to inform the community about crime trends. One of the recent crime trends the Laudium Sun has been alerted about, by the community, is the spate of break-ins into businesses, during the early hours of the morning where after the premises are vandalised, believed to be by nyaopes. Also entry to these premises has become common through the roof, which is believed to be safer for thieves from being spotted by passersby. To date police have not informed the community about taking precautions by securing the roof area of their premises also.
This follows yet another incident that took place recently, whereby a business premises, in the Laudium CBD, was broken into, via the roof. Ayesha Nadas, the owner of Laudium Spices on 4th Ave, told the Laudium Sun, “These thieves managed to get into the shop through the roof during the early hours of the morning. I discovered the theft as soon as I opened the shop at around 9am that morning. The inside of the shop was in a mess and then I noticed the hole in the ceiling. I immediately ran out of the shop for fear that the thieves could still be inside. I then called my colleague to enter the shop with me. I was surprised that the thief or thieves stole so much of my stock. They got away with spices, petty cash, Hindu accessories and shampoo. We need the police to patrol the CBD more often especially during late nights and early mornings.”
The Laudium Sun also spoke to businessman, Nazeer Thokan, who has a shop nearby, who said, “There are a lot of thieves in the area. A lot of rubbish is also dumped illegally in the Laudium CBD, that needs to be taken care of.”
