As incidents of crime in Erasmia increase dramatically, especially house break-ins, residents who are now living in greater fear are asking whether those elected by them are effective in addressing their concerns to the powers that be.
This follows yet more incidents of break-ins reported to the Laudium Sun by concerned residents of Erasmia, for stats purposes.
The latest reported break-in took place in the early hours of Tuesday (April 21) morning, at around 6:30am, when three Black thieves broke into the house of Vanessa Mohanlal on Aletta Street, Erasmia, while the owner was out to drop off her son. It is believed that the gang of thieves who arrived in a vehicle, parked their car in front of the house, then entered the home on the gated street, by breaking open the front gate and then the garage door, after which they apparently stole some small items, but mainly a 48-inch Samsung LED TV.
Vanessa told the Laudium Sun, “I was not at home when the break-in occurred, as I had gone to drop my son off at work. I left my house at around 5:30am in the morning and returned at approximately 6:45am. When I arrived back home and entered my property, I immediately noticed that the garage door was open and that my gate was also open, which raised my concerns. As I proceeded into the house, everything initially seemed in place, but when I went into the lounge, I discovered that my 48 inch Samsung LED TV was missing. I searched throughout the house to check if anything else had been taken or disturbed, but nothing of significance appeared to have been stolen except for the television. This made it clear that the intruders had specifically targeted the TV. I then spoke to my neighbours to find out if they had seen or heard anything unusual during the time I was away. One of them informed me that there was a car parked in front of my house at around 6:30am, which seemed suspicious. Based on this information, I believe that this must have been the vehicle used by the thieves who broke into my house and stole the TV. The neighbour also mentioned that three Black males were seen leaving my house with the television. This
situation is extremely concerning, as crime in Erasmia has become very serious. We work so hard for the things we own and it is really disheartening to see these criminals taking such advantage and stealing from us. Even though we live on a gated street, crime continues to increase and does not seem to be coming to an end. We are exhausted from constantly worrying about crime, as it feels like we are living in a prison within our own homes. This is not the way a community should feel, as there is supposed to be freedom and safety where we live, for all law abiding residents. Instead, we are forced to live in fear, always concerned that something like this could happen again, while these thieves move around freely. It is time that the police and the politicians take this ongoing crime situation seriously and effectively stop this criminality with the full might of the law.”
Neeran Bhaktwar of Aletta Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the break-in that happened and it is very concerning for all of us living in this area. Residents work extremely hard to earn a living and to provide for their families and it is unfair that criminals simply come and take what does not belong to them. Incidents like this makes us feel unsafe in our own neighbourhoods and create a sense of fear within the community. There is a strong need for better protection and visibility from SAPS, as well as support from local CPF community patrollers. At the moment, it feels as though residents are left to deal with crime on their own, without enough assistance or presence from law enforcement and the politicians. This situation cannot continue, as safety is a basic need for everyone living here. Even though we have a police station in Erasmia, it often feels as though there is very little police presence on our streets. We rarely see police vehicles patrolling the area, whether it is during the early hours of the morning or late at night. Regular patrols could make a big difference in preventing crimes like these and reassuring residents that their safety is being taken seriously.”
Ruan Pieterse, also of Aletta Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The community needs to come together and work alongside authorities to address crime issues, but there must also be a visible and active effort from the law enforcement side and the politicians. It seems that criminals are aware that there are no proper police patrols and poor police responses in the area, thus criminals are becoming more brazen and not scared to continue their activities, knowing that there is little chance of being caught. Living under constant worry is not how residents should live their daily lives. Everyone deserves to feel secure in their own homes and surroundings. It is important that steps are taken to improve safety measures in the area, so that residents can have peace of mind and not feel as though they are alone in dealing with crime. Stronger co-operation between the police, the CPF and the community is necessary to restore a sense of safety and trust in the area.”