Thieves prowling the streets of Laudium continue to have the absurd mindset of entitlement, invading resident’s homes without seemingly bothering as to whether they would be caught by the local police or knowing that the chances of them being caught by the police are rare and more so that the chances of being prosecuted and jailed, in the event of being caught, are even more rare. Hence, crime continues to plague Laudium, as slowly but surely, police effectiveness in curbing crime is diminishing.
This is the unfortunate experience a local resident had to face, and still remains surprised as to how thieves entered his home last Thursday, (August 19) in broad daylight and more so, using an entrance which faces a busy street. Abbas Shah, who has a home at the corner of Pearl Street and 13th Ave, told the Laudium Sun, “My wife and I had just left our home on Pearl Street, at around midday, as we had to go to town to buy stock for my business and my wife’s hair salon which she runs from home. It was not long after we left when I got a call from my neighbour that our house had been broken into. We left all our stock that we picked out and were about to pay for, and rushed back home. I was really worried and hoped that only one or two small items were stolen. But when I got back, I was so shocked to find that a lot of my stock and other valuables had been stolen. I was so disappointed, because there are people who are working just opposite our house, as they are doing some building work there. When I went to the builders to ask if they saw any person or any suspicious car in the area, at the time we left, they all claimed that they did not see anything. How is that possible? The entrance where the thieves broke in from was on the side where the builders are working and their people are often outside to get sand etc. So, I’m not sure if they gave information to the thieves that we were not at home, or if someone else was watching our home and knew that we had left. But, I will not leave this matter. If the police cannot find the thieves responsible for stealing in my house, I will catch them and when I do catch them, I will deal with them in a very harsh way. They will regret breaking into my house. I’m really tired of these thieves as this is not the first time that we have had such an incident. It seems that we are working for the thieves. Just when we earn a little money, these thieves take it all, either by stealing our cash or our goods, which we then need to replace. We can’t live like this. When I moved into Laudium, I heard there was a problem with crime, but I did not think it was so bad. There must have been a few thieves who entered my house as they stole a table, stock, catering equipment and even an extension cable, yet no one saw them enter or leave. Crime is becoming very bad in this town. I think these nyaopes, who are always walking around our houses are involved. I have opened a case. I hope that the police will do their job and catch these brazen thieves.”
Sergeant Simon Chokoe, of the Laudium SAPS, said, “A case of burglary has been opened at the police station, and police are investigating the case. No arrests have been made yet. I urge the residents of Laudium to work hand-in-hand with the police and not to take the law into their own hands. The police will work tirelessly to apprehend the culprits. Working together, we can stop crime.”
