Another week and another report of armed thugs having the audacity to enter Laudium, without fear and without being bothered of being confronted by the police or the many security companies who claim to be patrolling the streets of Laudium.
It has once again been a case of responding after the horse bolted, as an alert was placed on various social media platforms of a robbery taking place at a private home on Himalaya Street. The crime which took place this past Tuesday (Oct 11) at around 9am had tongues wagging, as to how brazen the thugs were. According to reports received, the male owner of the house, Hoosein Ismail, had gone to work, while his wife with two other family members were at home, when the house was stormed by the thugs, armed with guns and knives. According to a family friend, the house is known for selling savouries and a customer had entered the property to buy some samoosas. It is when the security gate was opened to let the customer out, that the armed gang entered, with boxes in their hands, claiming to be from a courier company, delivering some parcels. Once inside, the thugs immediately threw the empty boxes down and produced their weapons. It was only then realized by the family members that the boxes were in fact empty and were only carried by the thugs as a decoy, to enter the property. One victim was threatened with a knife and her hand was twisted by one of the aggressive thugs, whilst other family members were pointed with firearms. The family member who did not want to be named, added that the thugs had the names of the family members and as such, it seemed highly likely that the attack was an inside job. After threatening to shoot the family members if money and other valuables were not handed to the gang, an amount of cash was handed over to the thugs. Not satisfied with the loot they got, the gang then started ransacking the entire house, looking for money.
As the members of the household were understandably too traumatized to speak of the incident, the Laudium Sun spoke to a family member, Ali Mukadam, who said, “Someone spotted the thieves and they immediately called the police and private security companies working in the area.”
Shamshoodien Dawood also of Himalaya Str, who is a neighbor of the victim, told the Laudium Sun, “I just heard screaming and when I ran out, I saw my neighbor screaming and she was hysterical. I asked her what had happened and she said she opened the gate to collect a parcel from some delivery people. But, when the ‘delivery guys’ got inside, they pushed her down with a knife in their hand.”
According to reports on social media, the suspects got away in a white BMW (F30).
The Laudium Sun then spoke to Laudium Police Head of Communication, Sergeant Chokoe who said, “Police in Laudium are investigating a case of house robbery that took place Tuesday morning on Himalaya Street in Laudium. It is alleged that the victim was at her residential address when a female knocked at her door pretending to be delivering parcels for the victim’s daughter, with receipts. It is further alleged that while the victim was busy talking to the woman, two men entered carrying big boxes. They then pushed the victim inside the house and pointed her with a knife. Another three Africans armed with firearms entered. They pointed all victims with firearms and demanded money. The suspects ransacked the house and jewellery and an undisclosed amount of money was taken. No shots were fired. No one has been arrested yet and the case is being investigated”. Chokoe added that anyone with any information can contact the police and said that he was not aware of the CCTV footage that showed the white BMW in which the thugs made their get away.
