Whilst Laudium residents live in fear daily, due to the ongoing crime in the area, which just does not seem to be stopping, residents in the Ext 3 area in particular, are having constant sleepless nights because of the high crime in the area and the increase in the number of pedestrians who do not reside there, freely walking or just hanging around the streets in the area.
Despite calls for police to do crime prevention operations in the area, especially ‘stop and search’ exercises, the local police do not seem to have the will nor the resources, or are just scared to take action, so that crime could be reduced in the area. Even just doing more patrols on the streets, seems to be too much for the police. Over time, residents in the area have been calling for authorities to close off the open space area behind their homes, as criminals are using the area to make a quick getaway into Atteridgeville, after attacking homes in Laudium Ext 3. Residents say that police do not have the resources to run after the criminals in the veld each time there is an attack and as such closing off the area, would be the better solution. However, despite several promises made by politicians over time, especially during election campaigns, that the concerns of residents would be looked at, nothing has been done about their concerns.
Once more, the Laudium Sun received reports this week of more crime committed in the area, with one of the latest being a home on Kathmandu Street being invaded by an armed gang. The home from where a car battery business is also being run, was attacked this past Saturday (Sept 10) just past midday. When news of the attack spread on social media (see Laudium Sun FB page) and that a car, a blue BMW, was also stolen from the house, residents gathered in numbers outside the home, with some even driving out of Laudium, to see if they could spot the stolen car. Four armed thugs arrived at the home, in a white Mercedes Benz, with the excuse that they wanted to exchange an old car battery for a new one. The owner of the home was not there at the time. However, his wife, together with her kids and domestic workers were there.
Resident, Saeed Hassim told the Laudium Sun, about the events that led to the robbery at his home, according to what his wife explained to him, “On Saturday at around 12:30 my wife was on the phone with one of our customers, to do with a battery. She then later heard a buzz at the gate and opened the garage door as she thought it was the same customer who had called her with regards to a battery. As she walked to the garage door, she noticed a black guy standing with a battery in his hands, but it seemed like a broken battery. When she asked the guy how she could help him, the guy suddenly dropped the battery he was holding onto the floor and pulled out a firearm, pointing it towards my wife. Before she could even say anything, the next thing she saw two other guys who jumped out of a white Mercedes Benz, running towards her with guns in their hands, whilst the driver, the fourth guy, stood near the Merc. The three thugs tied up my wife, kids and the domestic and kept them in the dining room. Whilst one thug was watching over them, the others ransacked the house. They got away with cellphones, money, spare keys, iPads and then even stole our BMW 320d – Reg: Ch 35 DX – GP, blue in colour. Unfortunately the BMW did not have a tracker. Our gardener who was outside in the yard at the time, said that he was also accosted by the gang and was beaten up by them. This area in Ext 3 is becoming very dangerous. We need to do something urgently as a community to stop this crime and the police also have to increase visibility in the area.”
The Laudium Sun also spoke to the gardener, Ismail Williams who said, “I was held up and beaten up by these thugs. I am now so scared, as they threatened to shoot me should I make a noise. There is so much crime happening in this area.”
