It certainly seems that the Erasmia police and CPF have no plan of action as to how to curb the ongoing crime in the area.
This follows a recent spate of house robberies and house break-ins within a short space of time in the area.
In one of the latest reports of house break-ins sent to the Laudium Sun by residents in the area, a home on Hoof Str in Erasmia was attacked this past Sunday (April 12) afternoon, at around 5:30pm. It is believed that a gang of five Black thugs entered the house after forcefully opening the front gate and then breaking open the front door of the house. The gang believed to be armed then ransacked the home searching for valuables. After stealing a number of valuables including an undisclosed amount of cash, jewelery and two iPhones, the gang managed to leave the property without being noticed by the police or CPF Patrollers or any of the private security vehicles patrolling the area.
When the Laudium Sun went to the home to get a comment on the theft, the homeowner was not available.
However, Patricia Moabi, a domestic worker at the Hoof Street home, told the Laudium Sun, “My madam and I were not at home at the time of the theft, as I had accompanied her when we left the house earlier. While we were away, my madam received a phone call from one of the neighbours, at around 5:30pm informing her that they had heard suspicious noises coming from the house and believed that some thieves were inside the house stealing. We were not too far from the house when we received the call and we immediately rushed back to the house to check what was happening. When we arrived, we noticed that the front gate had been broken and was open and the front door was also damaged and open. It was clear that thieves had entered the house and stolen a number of items, as the scene was very disturbing to see. Everything had been left in a state of disorder. It was evident that the intruders had moved through the house while searching for valuables. From what I understand, cash, jewellery and two iPhones were also stolen from the house before the thieves fled the scene. This crime has caused a great deal of distress for my boss and has left all of us feeling unsafe. Incidents of crime like this are becoming so common in the area and it is very worrying for residents who are trying to live peacefully in their homes. We are now living in fear, as it feels like these criminals can target any house at any time without hesitation. I just hope that the thieves will be arrested soon so that they do not commit any crime again. We need more police presence in our area as it seems that our street has been a target of criminals.”
Gertie Frost, also of Hoof Street, told the Laudium Sun, “This incident is extremely disturbing. News about the break-in spread quickly through the WhatsApp group, yet none of the thieves were spotted or even arrested. Crimes like this have been occurring far too frequently within our area and it is clear that Erasmia is becoming more dangerous with each passing day, leaving residents feeling unsafe in their own surroundings. Fear has become part of our daily life and that is deeply concerning for everyone living here. Living under the constant threat of falling victim to crime is not acceptable. Families deserve peace, safety and protection, yet criminal activity continues to rise. There is a strong need for improved security measures, increased police patrols, and greater attention from the politicians to address this growing problem. Without urgent intervention, our condition of living in fear will only worsen. These criminals operate without fear or compassion. There is also a serious concern that when intruders fail to find valuables, violence may follow, placing innocent lives at risk. That possibility creates anxiety among residents, especially during the night when homes are more vulnerable. Stronger action is urgently required from the police to restore law and order and to protect residents from further harm. Unity among neighbours is also important. Safety is a basic right, not something we should beg for. At present, Erasmia is a dangerous place to live in and immediate steps are needed to change this reality.”
Pritesh Bhana from the Erasmia CPF told the Laudium Sun, “A house break-in was reported in the area where five suspects gained entry to a property by breaking the gate and front door. The suspects stole a mobile phone and other items before fleeing the scene. CPF members responded promptly and attended to the scene, where additional information was gathered from the victim and surrounding residents. The SAPS was contacted, and a case of house robbery has been officially opened for further investigation.”