Whilst news of crime in the Laudium area has unfortunately become a daily topic amongst residents, with very little surprise upon hearing of new incidents of house break-ins, muggings or similar crimes, residents remain puzzled as to how daring criminals have become.
It is evident that criminals are attacking both residents and businesses during times when streets are busy, with many people walking around, with attacks even being carried out during weekends and more so during the day, when there is much more activity on the streets in the neighbourhoods.
This follows of a break in into a car that was left unoccupied this past Saturday (July 15) for less than an hour, when the owner of a silver Mercedes B series, left her car locked and all windows closed, outside her Himalaya Street home. Thieves managed to steal a number of items from the car, strangely without any passing motorist or neighbour spotting them, despite the car alarm being activated and the criminal act being executed in broad daylight.
Nazira Ismail, a resident from Himalaya Street and owner of the Merc, told the Laudium Sun, “On Saturday afternoon, I parked my car, a silver Mercedes outside our house, as I was planning to go out again. Being a Saturday, a lazy day, I decided to take a short nap whilst waiting for someone. About an hour later, at around 3:30pm, I was awoken by the sound of my car alarm. I immediately went out to check what was happening and was shocked to see that my car had been broken into and that so many of the items in the car were missing. There must have been more than one thief as my husband’s golfing kit; bag with golf clubs, clothing and shoes, amongst other items, were missing. I just cannot believe how brazen these thieves are. Our street is fairly busy on a Saturday afternoon and besides the neighbourhood is also alive on weekends, yet no one spotted the thieves either breaking into my car or running away with the items they stole. One of the neighbours told me that they saw two young black guys near my car, but did not think anything strange, as she thought that the guys were waiting for someone. The items stolen were worth at least R30K and these guys will probably sell it for a few rand, just to buy their drugs. The crime in Laudium has become very bad. We can’t even leave our house and are always living in fear. As a community we must stop the crime, before it is too late. Either way we can’t live like this. Our police must also now stand up and do their job to protect us from criminals on a very serious note, because we want to be free, instead everyday living with fear.”
Sadia Ismail, a neighbour and also a resident from Himalaya Street, told the Laudium Sun, “It is very scary for us, who have been living here for years, and now seeing how crime has reached top notch, over the past few years. Crime in our area must stop, because we can’t live in fear in our own homes and community. It is not safe at all for us to stay here. The police must get their act together and stop all this crime.”
Spokesperson of the Laudium SAPS, Sgt Simon Chokoe told the Laudium Sun, “It is alleged that the victim parked her motor vehicle, a silver Mercedes Benz with all windows closed, doors closed and locked and went into the premises. It is further alleged that when the victim went back to the vehicle, she noticed that the vehicle was open and a golf club kit to the value of R30 000.00 which was left in the vehicle, had been stolen. No one has been arrested yet. A case of theft out of motor vehicle has been opened at the Saps Laudium for investigation. The South African Police Service in Laudium is pleading to anyone with information which might lead to the arrest of the suspects, to contact the Saps on 0860010111 or contact the local police.”
