Another week, and yet more crime incidents have been brought to the attention of the Laudium Sun by concerned residents, who want these incidents of crime to be published in the people’s paper, the Laudium Sun, so that other residents are made aware, and can hopefully take the necessary precautions, wherever practical.
However, unfortunately, it seems that our local police and the various security companies patrolling the area, do not seem to be doing much in escalating their ‘watch’ on the streets, to curb the ongoing crime. Very seldom do we hear of these patrollers arresting thieves, caught in the act. It is a known fact that crime is high in the Laudium area, and out of fear, more and more residents are depending on private security companies to protect them and their property, as the police are failing them dismally. Despite forking out their hard- earned money each month for private patrols in the area, the Laudium Sun is not aware of any area in Laudium that can be claimed ‘safe’. Why this is the case, remains a question that subscribers to these security companies should be asking their security service providers. Further to the various reports received from residents over recent months, it is clear that both petty and serious crime seems to be on the increase. Daily, the streets of Laudium are filled with people looking for jobs, food and money. However, some of these very same people, freely walking the streets, have criminal intentions, with some even being armed. These petty criminals, many of whom are nyaopes, look out for opportunities to steal anything of value, even if it is worth a mere few rand, so that they can feed their drug habits.
This is the lesson that a tenant from Bengal Street learnt recently, when she kept her cellphone on the charger, on her outside front patio. Although her home is secured by a wall and fencing, the cellphone went missing within a few minutes. Sharon Matuba, a hawker, who sells sweets and other confectioneries outside the nearby Himalaya Secondary School, explained further to the Laudium Sun, what led to her cellphone and other items gone missing last Monday, at around 11am.
Sharon detailed, “At around 11 on Monday morning, I was getting ready to go to the school as I sell sweets and other things there outside. I then realized that my cellphone battery was down, so I quickly put it on the charger, in the patio area, as there is a plug there. I then went inside the house to pack the chips in a crate. After packing everything in a trolley, I went out to fetch my phone and some change that I left there. I was surprised to notice that everything was gone. I could not understand how that was possible, as the front gate was closed. I would never leave it open, as I am aware of all the crime taking place in Laudium through the Laudium Sun. I then went out to check the front gate and saw that the burglar bars on the gate were pulled out. They must have used some tool to saw it off. This is not the first time that we have had a problem with crime. They also broke into our home not long back, when we were away. At that time, they stole our big screen TV, clothing and a lot of other valuable stuff. Laudium is becoming so dangerous, because even while we are in our homes they are coming in to steal from us. Now we are not even safe in our own homes, because we don’t know who is watching our every move. These thieves are so dangerous and daring that they are not even scared of the police… for them to rip open our gates and that to in broad day light. The police must do something to stop all this crime.”
Nearby neighbour, Shereen Abdul, also of Bengal Street, said, “Our lives are in danger, every single day. Whether we are in our homes or pulling into our driveways or even sitting outside on our balconies, we are not safe any longer. Laudium has become everyone’s worst nightmare with all the robberies, break-ins, thefts and other wrong things going on. I wonder why our police and private security companies are not stopping all this crime.”
