It is certainly clear that criminals prowling the Laudium/Erasmia area, are not gone for their ‘annual holiday leave,’ as crime in the area continues, despite police and CPF patrols, allegedly continuing in the area.
This follows yet again, the past week seeing many serious crimes occurring in the area, including the ongoing theft of motor vehicles.
In one of the latest incidents of crime reported to the Laudium Sun for stats purposes, a motor vehicle was stolen from the car park of a local Mosque, while some worshippers were busy praying inside the Mosque.
The theft from the parking area, which took place this past Tuesday afternoon (Dec 9), at around 6pm, saw a white Toyota Yaris (WTY 791 GP), apparently belonging to a Pakistani national who came to pray at the Ghousia Masjid on Bengal Street, Laudium, stolen by three suspected Black thieves from the parking area. Inside the car were also four Samsung phones, an ID, a passport and bank cards. CCTV footage showed that the thieves came with ‘their’ car and deliberately squeezed in between the Yaris and another car, in order to obscure their ‘breaking-into’ the Yaris.
Caretaker of the Ghousia Masjid, Saheed Phiri, told the Laudium Sun, “It was just after the late afternoon prayer time and I was sitting inside the Mosque. There were others who were busy praying on their own, as they came late for the congregational prayer and the Imaam had already gone to his living quarters. Nothing seemed unusual at that time and after the few who were praying inside had left, I stepped outside. It was then that I noticed this Pakistani man who always comes to our Mosque to pray and who came late this time, standing in the courtyard. He was crying and seemed very distraught. It was clear that something very serious was disturbing him. I walked closer to find out what was happening and that is when I found out that thieves had stolen his car, right outside our Mosque. The thieves had stolen his white Toyota Yaris from the parking area while he and a few others, who came late, were praying inside on their own. The Pakistani man and others checked everywhere around the Mosque area and even looked in the small parking spaces behind the Mosque and all around the street. I also helped to check, as we were all hoping that maybe his car was parked somewhere else by mistake, but the car was nowhere to be found. I felt very sorry for him because he comes regularly to our Mosque and does not mind anyone’s business. He just comes to pray and then leaves, but this time he was late and now his car is gone. Later when we checked the CCTV footage, we saw another car coming in, seemingly with three Black males. There was so much parking at the time, yet this car squeezed between two cars parked right in front of the Mosque. Not even a minute later the same car, together with the Yaris left. Crime in our area is becoming very serious and the situation is getting worse day by day. Even those who come for prayers are not being spared and these thieves do not think twice before targeting anyone. It is very sad to see that even a place of worship is not safe anymore. What has happened here truly shows that criminals do not even respect a holy place, forget any individual.”
said the theft shows that criminals do not even
respect a holy place, forget any individual.
Bengal Street business owner, Mohammed Saluddin, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the theft of the white Toyota Yaris from the Mosque premises and this news is extremely upsetting. It is alarming that such an act happened at a place where people come for prayer and peace. The idea that someone can drive into a place of worship area and target a vehicle without any hesitation shows how bold these criminals have become. I sincerely hope that justice will be served and that the police will be able to trace the thieves who stole the man’s car. A person works hard for what he owns and losing it in this manner is painful and unfair. With the festive season approaching, I believe our community needs stronger security measures. Crime always increases during this time and if preventive steps are not taken, more residents may become victims. Simple measures such as increased patrols, better lighting, and community vigilance can make a difference. It is important that everyone stays alert and supports one another so that incidents like this do not continue in our area.”
Saluddin, said it is alarming that such an act
happened at a place where people come for
prayer and peace.
Abdul Rehman, a resident of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I first heard about the car being stolen car through the Laudium Sun Facebook and found the news extremely upsetting. It is hard to understand how thieves can target people who simply come to read their Namaaz. This kind of behaviour shows how unsafe the area has become and it is worrying for all of us who live here. I truly hope the police will conduct a proper investigation and recover the vehicle soon. I feel genuinely sorry for the owner, as no one deserves to experience such a loss while they are praying.”