Many residents who have moved out of Laudium due to the high crime, are realising that crime is spreading all over the area.
Besides moving to the relatively safer areas, such as security estates in the Eastern areas of Laudium, many of the former residents are feeling the effects of crime even at their new places of abode. Those who have not moved to the security estates due to the close density of houses built near each other, have chosen surrounding areas whereby there are large farming plots so that they could continue with their business there and also at the same time live on the same premises, without much restrictions such as curfews on activities and building restrictions. However, the downside is certainly the crime situation, which is also being escalated by the growing informal settlements around these farming areas, especially in the west and southern side of Erasmia proper, and the difficulties of police patrols on these large tracts of land.
This is what a resident from Mooiplaas (south of Erasmia proper) learnt after his plot was attacked by thieves, last Wednesday shortly after midnight. The house on plot 24 in Mooiplaas owned by Jameel Mohammad (54 ) became the target of mysterious thefts. Jameel who lives with his family on the plot, including his father, brother, and two sons, trades on the plot as a motor mechanic, repairing cars and has been living there for about 12 years. Jameel explained further to the Laudium Sun, “Recently I have noticed a spate of incidents of theft. It began when recently my tools were stolen then I found one of the car windows smashed and now the gearbox of a vehicle was stolen in the dead of the night. The gearbox was stolen the same night that the vehicle was brought by the owner to me to get it fixed. Despite living in a quiet and hidden area, our plot has become a target of criminals. Not to give up, I even installed CCTV cameras to protect my property. However to this day the suspects are still unknown and no arrests have been made. We cannot continue living in fear, so now I have decided to hire a guard to look after our property as even though we have seven dogs here, I feel they are not helpful at this moment, I am not sure if these thieves are giving the dogs something to eat or what to make them sleep. I found out only the next morning when I was preparing to fix the client’s vehicle, that the gearbox was missing, which has really upset me, as it is totally ruining my business. What do I tell my client? Just how did his gearbox go missing and besides that, I have to compensate my client for the missing gearbox. This crime is hurting my business. Although I have reported the incidents to the police, they have so far not found the culprits behind the theft. As a businessman and owner of this plot, these thefts are causing me a lot of stress. I bought this plot to get peace away from Laudium and there was peace for many years, but recently due to the ongoing crime there is no more peace. I appeal to the community and plot owners like me to stay alert and vigilant of suspicious people walking or driving around our area.” Jameel added, “I also urge the Erasmia police to curb crime in our area by patrolling our area more often, as we hardly see visible policing on our streets.”
In response, Erasmia CPF chairperson, Pritesh Bhana told the Laudium Sun, “The CPF has asked the SAPS to have extra patrols during the evening and show more visibility in these affected areas. We urge residents to report all crimes to the SAPS and CPF.”