While residents of Laudium and Erasmia remain living in fear due to the ongoing crime in the area, the local police and CPF are hiding information regarding details of crime in the area.
Thus, residents are kept in the dark on daily, weekly or even monthly crime reports, which crimes are taking place in their very own areas. Residents are not even aware whether the desperate measures taken by them to fight crime, such as the closing of streets with security gates, are helping or not, to reduce crime, as there is no detailed information released by the local police or the CPF. Even the quarterly crime stats for the country released by the National or Provincial Police, do not give details as to where exactly robberies or thefts in a particular area have taken place or the modus operandi of criminals, such as the times or days when more crime takes place in a particular area or the make of a vehicle involved in a crime, so that residents can be pre-warned.
This follows yet again, some of the incidents of crime in the area, reported this week to the Laudium Sun.
In one of the latest incidents, three thieves ransacked an Erasmia home this past Sunday morning (March 1), at around 10am. The thieves who arrived in a white Toyota Corolla, in broad daylight, managed to break into the house of Masood Kholvadia on Hoof Street, Erasmia, without being noticed and even left with a number of household items and an undisclosed amount of cash, without being noticed by the police, the CPF or the private security patrollers, while driving away on a Sunday morning.
Masood told the Laudium Sun, “We were not at home when the break-in took place. When we got home later in the day, we were shocked to find that our home had been broken into and ransacked. The thieves were seemingly searching the house for valuables. We then checked our CCTV footage, that is when we saw that there were two Black males and a black female who broke into our house by forcing open the front door, after jumping over the front gate. They moved quickly inside the house and appeared to know exactly what they were doing. The thieves stole household items and cash from my house before fleeing the scene, in the Toyota they came in with. The level of crime in our area is really high and frightening and we are definitely not safe anymore. It is so worrying to see how audacious these criminals have become. If thieves can break into our house in broad daylight, then what about at night when everyone is asleep? This ongoing crime must be put to a stop because we want to live in an area where we can live in peace, without constantly stressing about thieves and criminals targeting our homes. Our community is living in fear. Residents are investing in security systems, cameras, higher gates and even closing off streets, yet these criminals still find ways to enter properties. The criminals have taken over our community, yet there is little visible law enforcement in our area. The police in Erasmia are not doing enough to protect residents. If the police were actively patrolling our streets on a regular basis, criminals would think twice before breaking into homes. We need stronger action and visible policing to restore confidence in our neighbourhood. Residents deserve to feel safe in their own homes without worrying that they will return to find their belongings stolen and their property damaged. The police must also ensure that those responsible for committing crimes are brought to justice. Our families, children, and elderly residents deserve protection and we cannot continue living under constant fear of crime taking over our streets.”
Christiaan Bolching, also of Hoof Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the burglary near my house and it is very disturbing. The boldness of the suspects is shocking, especially because they did not hesitate to carry out the break-in during the day. This shows how fearless criminals have become in our neighbourhood. The situation is extremely worrying for all residents living in the area. A proper investigation must be conducted by the police so that those responsible can be arrested and held accountable for their actions. Incidents like this cannot simply be ignored or treated lightly. When criminals are allowed to operate without consequences, it creates a dangerous environment for families, children, and elderly residents. There is a serious need for stronger law enforcement in our community. Visible policing and regular patrols are of utmost importance in deterring criminal activity. The Erasmia police must become more proactive and committed to protecting residents. If law enforcement officers are not effectively carrying out their duties, it gives criminals the freedom to move around freely and commit offences without fear of consequences.”
Nishani Singh, another Hoof Street resident, told the Laudium Sun, “We are living in a community where our Councillor and the local CPF are presenting information that suggests that crime levels are low, yet we continue to read weekly reports in the Laudium Sun about some of the crime, I shudder to think how much crime is actually taking place in the area. Many residents believe that accurate statistics are not being openly shared. There is a perception that certain stakeholders, including property dealers in Laudium and Erasmia, may be concerned that openly acknowledging high crime levels could negatively affect property values. As a result, residents are left questioning whether the full truth about crime in the area is being disclosed. From a community perspective, crime feels significantly high and many families no longer feel secure living in Erasmia. Safety should be the top priority and transparency is essential in rebuilding trust between residents, local representatives and community structures. Honest communication about the challenges facing the area would allow people to work together to find real solutions. Without openness and accountability, it becomes difficult to address the growing concerns about security and the overall well-being of those living in this neighbourhood.”
Attempts to get a comment from CPF Zonal Head, which includes the Laudium/Erasmia area, Shaheen Wahab, were unsuccessful.