As the high level of crime continues to be of great concern to Laudium residents, police seemingly do not share the same concern, as criminals continue to walk the streets freely, without any fear of being caught by the police.
What is also of concern to residents is the high number of nyaopes who are flocking into the area, and are turning to crime. These nyaopes hang around business and residential areas, watching and waiting for the first opportunity to strike at their target, the vulnerable residents and businesses. Residents also keep on complaining that the local police are not bothered to do some proactive policing, by stopping and searching these nyaopes who sit under trees on street corners or parks, planning their next move.
A Bengal Street resident, who experienced crime first-hand, this past week, explained his ordeal to the Laudium Sun. The incident that took place outside the house of Bilaal Ali, last Thursday, just before 4pm, has caused an uproar, as one of the pair of good Samaritans was arrested, after being falsely accused by the perpetrator.
Bilaal explained further, “On Thursday afternoon, my car was parked outside my house on Bengal Street, as usual, as I was planning to go out in the early evening and would have parked it inside after returning. At around 15h40, whilst busy inside the house doing some chores, I then heard screaming, which sounded like it was coming from outside, on the street. Not thinking that it had anything to with me, I decided to just go outside to see what was happening. It is then that I was totally stunned to see that my car’s boot was open and there was some commotion going on with a group of people who were standing next to the open boot. When I took a step closer, I noticed two Black males and two Coloured guys, arguing. That is when I learnt that the two Black males had removed the wheel spanner, jack, spare wheel and a few valuables, from my car and gathered these outside on the side of the car, with the intention of stealing the items. It was the two Coloured guys who accosted them and tried to chase them away from the car, but these thieves who looked like nyaopes, were determined to steal my things, despite being caught out. I could not believe their audacity. One would have expected, under these circumstances, for them to just run away.”
Bilaal added, “My car is always parked outside on the pavement when I come back from work, as I usually go to the shops a little later, and upon returning from the shops, I then park it inside.”
According to Bilaal, the two Coloured guys, were driving past Bengal Street and that is when they noticed the two nyaopes acting strangely, “Upon stopping they confronted the two at my car, who remained undeterred and carried on removing items from my car. The Coloured guys explained to me that they stopped and asked the two nyaopes what were they doing, but the pair were arrogant and defiant. One of the Coloured guys recognised one of the nyaopes who was involved with several crime matters in the area, especially theft from cars and immediately called the police. When the nyaopes saw the Coloured guy on his phone, they tried to make run for it, whereupon the Coloured guy took out his firearm and told them to stop till the police came. However, when the police arrived, the nyaopes told them that the Coloured guy wanted to shoot them, so the police arrested the Coloured guy together with the nyaopes. I am so upset that the police arrested a guy who actually stopped a crime from happening.”
The Laudium Sun then spoke to Mashooda Tayob, also of Bengal Street, who said, “Almost every second day, thieves are either attacking houses or motor vehicles. Police really need to step up and do something to stop this high crime in the area.”
Sergeant Chokoe of the Laudium Police told the Laudium Sun that the suspects have been caught and are in custody.
