While residents in the Laudium /Erasmia area have seen a spike in crime concerning more serious crimes such as house robberies and car thefts, the ‘normal’ petty crimes seem to also be increasing.
With reports of an increase in the number of ‘vagrants’ seen walking on the streets, residents claim that many of the perpetrators of petty crimes are from the two nearby informal settlements (Itireleng and Ntswane Village, Erasmia).
In one of the recent incidents of petty crime, unknown thieves targeted a home on Bengal Str in Laudium Ext 3, last Sunday night. The thieves, believed to be at least two, managed to strip and steal a gate motor which was mounted at the front gate, without being noticed by the police or CPF patrollers.
Owner of the targeted home, Osman Kara, told the Laudium Sun, “I was not in the house when the incident happened, but I got to know about it in the morning when I came back. I was at home until late in the evening on Sunday and then left. So, I suspect the theft might have happened at around midnight. I believe there must have been two or three thieves who stole the gate motor. The gate motor is really expensive and now we have to purchase a new one. This is really unfair because I have to now fork out money on something which was not of my doing. Crime in Laudium is becoming worse by the day and it is really making me angry. Every week we hear or read in the Laudium Sun about thefts, be it a car battery, a gate motor, or even a house break-in. It feels like the criminals are getting bolder and residents are just left helpless. I have been living in Laudium for many years and I have never seen crime rise to such a level before. It’s sad because Laudium used to be a peaceful place, where as a community, everyone knew each other and we all felt safe. Now, that feeling of safety is completely gone. The politicians and the police are not doing enough to stop the thieves and criminality. We report cases, but nothing happens afterwards. It’s as if our complaints don’t matter anymore. The community is frustrated and losing faith in the law, with many residents not even bothered to report crime anymore. Honestly, I am thinking of relocating from Laudium because it is no longer a place where one ccan live in peace. It feels like a place for criminals and corrupt leaders. Nothing is in order these days. People are afraid to even go out or leave their houses unattended to. We all work hard to earn a living, yet our belongings are not safe. The crime situation is becoming unbearable and if nothing is done soon, many of us will be forced to move out of this once-beautiful area.”
Fareed Khan, also of Bengal Street, told the Laudium Sun, “Crime is just unbearable in this place. I want to send this message to the government through the Laudium Sun: please bring the death penalty back because these thieves must receive a lesson so they will not repeat their greed of stealing. We want the death penalty returned in South Africa. Every week there is something new; break-ins, thefts and people living in fear. It’s not only about
property and things, it’s about our right to feel safe and secure in our own homes. I have seen neighbours lose valuable possessions and never get justice. We report cases, but nothing changes. The courts are slow and the criminals come back again and again. When victims are ignored and offenders walk free, it destroys our trust in the whole system. People are angry and desperate. I am not calling for revenge, but I want real consequences and justice, so our children can grow up without worrying that someone could steal their belongings at anytime. We need stronger laws and a justice system that works for ordinary people, not just the powerful. We also need better policing, faster court processes and clear follow-ups when cases are reported. The message from residents is clear: we are tired of living under threat and watching our community fall apart. The government must listen. Bring back tougher penalties and fix the justice system so criminals face real consequences. Only then will people begin to feel safe again on Bengal Street and indeed across Laudium.”
Bengal Str resident, Munir Ahmed, told the Laudium Sun, “We have heard about so many crime incidents lately and it really upsets us. There should be more police patrols in our area to ensure our safety. We just want to live peacefully without constantly worrying about thefts and criminal activity in our neighbourhood.”
