While crime continues in the Laudium/Erasmia area, leaving residents living in constant fear, the local Police and CPFs still refuse to give weekly detailed stats on crimes committed in the area.
Thus, residents remain in the dark as to the modus operandi of criminals, or even the actual crimes that are taking place in their neighbourhoods.
This follows a spate of Toyota Yaris vehicles being stolen in the area recently, with no official stats, statements or more information from the police, as to how many have of these cars or other cars have been stolen over past 6 months in the area, the times and days they were stolen and who the suspects were in these thefts.
This week, the Laudium Sun was informed by a concerned resident of yet another Yaris being stolen. This time the vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of a local Mosque, while the owner went for the midday prayer. The theft of the white Toyota Yaris (registration number KW23 VZ GP), which was stolen from the inside parking area at Darus Salaam Islamic Centre on Corundum Street, Laudium, last Thursday afternoon shortly before 1pm, left the owner shocked and in disbelief. It is believed that 3 Black males, driving a grey Ford Focus hatch back, entered the parking lot pretending to also be attending the prayers and were responsible for the theft of the Toyota.
Owner of the stolen Toyota Yaris, Shafiq Jiwa, told the Laudium Sun, “I was at the Darus Salaam Islamic Centre to perform my afternoon prayer. I arrived at around 12:35pm and parked my car inside the parking area, believing that it would be safe while I went inside the Mosque for prayer, as they have a security guard at the gate. As normal, I walked into the Masjid with peace of mind, as I frequently pray there and certainly did not expect anything unusual to happen during my short time there on Thursday. When I completed my prayer and went outside, about half-an-hour later, I immediately noticed that my vehicle was not where I had parked it, it did not yet hit me that my car had been stolen, but I felt shocked and confused as I looked around the parking space hoping that I had simply forgotten where I parked it. It then became clear to me that my car was gone. It had been stolen. I then spoke to the security guard at the gate to find out if he had seen anything suspicious. The security guard explained that he had noticed three Black individuals arriving in a Ford vehicle earlier and at the time he assumed they were simply coming to pray and were looking for parking, so he did not think much of it or treat it as suspicious behavior. Based on what he explained, I strongly believe those three persons are linked to the theft of my vehicle, especially considering the timing and how quickly the theft took place while I was inside the Mosque. CCTV footage of the Mosque clearly showed my car being stolen from the parking area at around 12:45pm, a few minutes after I had parked it. The footage also showed how quickly these three guys managed to steal my car, without being noticed by anyone. It is very upsetting to think that even a place of worship is not free from criminal incidents and it is deeply concerning that people can no longer leave their belongings even for a short time without fear. I sincerely hope that the police will investigate this matter thoroughly and help recover my vehicle as soon as possible. I am also appealing to anyone who may have seen my white Toyota Yaris or has any information about it to please give the information to the Police, as any information could help in finding it. Even with security measures in place, incidents like this theft show that more needs to be done to ensure safety in the Mosque area.”
Darus Salaam security guard, Patrick Mwale, told the Laudium Sun, “I was assigned to the daytime security post at the entrance of Darus Salaam Islamic Centre on Corundum Street in Laudium, where my duty covered the busy midday period between twelve o’clock and half past one. During that time, the premises become extremely active with continuous movement of vehicles, worshipers arriving for prayer and school learners being collected, making constant monitoring essential. At one point I observed a group of three Black men arriving in a Ford vehicle, entering the parking section and positioning themselves near the area where a white Toyota Yaris was parked. Their behavior drew my attention because they lingered close to the parked vehicle and moved around it in a manner that did not appear typical of ordinary visitors coming only for prayer. I briefly turned to check activity at the gate as other vehicles were entering and exiting, still trying to keep the three guys in sight as far as possible, given the pressure of controlling access during peak flow. Within a short moment I noticed the Ford vehicle departing the premises and only later it became clear that the Yaris had also disappeared from the parking space without any obvious commotion. I am very uncertain about how the removal of the vehicle was executed so quickly and quietly, especially since I was stationed at the entrance and maintaining awareness of movements in and out. The entire situation was unexpected and confusing and it raised serious concerns about how such an incident could take place during a period when security presence and observation were actively in place. I continue to reflect on how the timing aligned with the busiest period of the day, when multiple responsibilities are managed simultaneously and how important it is to strengthen security awareness and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again in future.”
said the theft occurred during peak time,
adding that security procedures must be
strengthened.
Nilofar Patel of Corundum Street told the Laudium Sun, “The situation in the area has become increasingly worrying as incidents of crime appear to be happening more often, creating fear among residents who simply want to live peacefully in their neighbourhood. Hearing about the vehicle that was stolen from the Mosque has been very disturbing because a Mosque is meant to be a place of worship, reflection and safety where people should be able to go with trust and peace of mind. It is very upsetting to think that even such a sacred space is no longer free from criminal activity and that individuals who come only to pray and fulfil their religious duties can so easily fall victim to such terrible acts.”
