The close-knit community of Gerhardsville has been plagued by a dramatic increase of crime in the area, and what is worrisome for them is that they are seemingly left to defend themselves as police are very seldom seen patrolling their streets.
Over the past few months the Laudium Sun has reported on a number of incidents of crime in the area, seemingly increasing as more and more security gates are erected on the streets of the neighbouring Laudium and Erasmia areas. Many Gerhardsville residents say that the crime in their area has increased as more and more illegal shacks are built around the area with mainly illegal foreigners flocking in, while the local authorities ‘fold their hands’ and are not willing to take action against these illegal shack dwellers. Another problem facing these residents is the increase of nyaopes coming into the area, some of whom are believed to be behind the spate of thefts of remote controlled gate motors. Last Tuesday (Oct 15) saw a spate of burglaries in the area, during which at least three properties on Primula Avenue were attacked. In all three cases, none of the home owners received any warning from their dogs on guard, raising alarms of suspected dog-poisoning.
The first property targeted (plot 3), belongs to Richard Wear who has been the home-owner for over 35 years. Richard told the Laudium Sun, “I have never witnessed such atrocities until these recent crime events. Our main gate lock, the horse-gate leading to the stables and the lock of the outside toilet, were all found cut. I am still trying to ascertain what was stolen. Considering that we have an ADT alarm system, it seems that the burglars were aware that the system is only attached to the main house which is why they manoeuvred around the fence and the gates.” Next door neighbour, Johannes Jacobus of plot 4, also fell victim the same night to this round of crimes. Johannes who takes care of his elderly father, expressed his fears regarding how the spate of burglaries has left the neighbourhood vulnerable and exposed, adding, “I was shocked to discover that our gate battery and wires had been ripped off, by these criminals who are causing terrible stress for us all. I am still trying to figure out what had been stolen from the yard. We as residents urge the Erasmia police to increase patrols in our area as we hardly see any police patrols in our area.”
Another resident of Primula Ave, Chandre Knight of plot 5, who also fell victim to crime on the same Tuesday night, relayed her story to the Laudium Sun concerning her gardening tools, gas cylinders and other items being stolen. “I suspect that our dogs were poisoned as I found poison residue on old bones that were wrapped in plastic. We had to quickly rush our dogs to the SPCA. There were a number of items stolen from the yard including garden tools and gas cylinders. It is very worrisome that the crime situation in our area is getting so out of control. As a community we cannot fight crime on our own without the help or backing of our local police, who unfortunately are very seldom seen patrolling in our area.”
*The Chairperson of the Erasmia CPF, Pritesh Bhana, was not available to comment on the crime situation in Gerhardsville.
