Crime and even more crime, yet those who chose to represent the community in curbing crime, particularlly Laudium CPF Chair Shaheen Wahab and Cllr Naeem Patel (who amongst others is part of the local CPF Board and has a Safety & Security portfolio on his Ward Committee) are failing the community they pledged to serve.
In one of the latest reports of crime received by the Laudium Sun for stats purposes, a delivery motorbike was stolen from a home on Emerald Str the previous Tuesday, in the very early part of the morning. The motorbike, a 2018 – Hero Eco 150 cc, Reg. No. LV03VGGP, which belonged to ‘Takealot’ is believed to have been stolen from the yard by two thieves.
that was stolen on Emerald Str.
Vincent Keyala, a tenant at a home on Emerald Str and who does deliveries on behalf of ‘Takealot,’ explained further to the Laudium Sun, “I was shocked to discover that the bike which was locked in the yard had been stolen. I only learnt about the theft from the yard when the tracker company called me in the early part of the morning at around 2am, asking me where my bike was. My immediate response to them was that the bike was safely locked in my yard. But then they asked me to go check as they got a signal that it had moved. Thinking that they must have made a mistake, I casually went outside to the yard to check, but was stunned to find that the motorbike was not in the yard where I always parked it. This was really a bad experience for me. Even though the motorbike did not belong to me personally, crime in Laudium is shocking and this just highlights how serious the situation has become. We are not safe anymore. Every week we read about break ins, thefts and robberies in the Laudium Sun. People have to constantly watch their backs, not just for their belongings but also for their own safety. Today, they stole a motorbike, tomorrow they might come to break into a house. Living under this constant fear is exhausting. You can never feel comfortable even inside your own home. It has become a situation where no one can relax and the sense of security that we once had is gone. This incident has made me frustrated and worried. I always made sure to lock the motorbike properly and park it in a safe place, yet it was still stolen. This shows that these criminals are becoming more daring and organized. It’s not only a personal loss, it is also a loss for my company which depends on the motorbike for deliveries. The theft affects more than just me, it affects people’s jobs, services, and the whole community. Living in Laudium used to feel safe, but not anymore. Now, everyone is stressed, worried and unsure of who might be the next crime victim. Residents have to spend extra money to replace stolen property, install better security systems, close off streets and take every precaution just to protect themselves. But even with these efforts, it feels like nothing i enough. The police, the CPF and the politicians who are meant to serve the community need to step up and take serious action to protect residents. This motorbike theft is just one example of how lawlessness is affecting ordinary people. We need stronger policing, stricter penalties for criminals and more awareness in the community, so that such crimes do not keep occurring. Otherwise, Laudium will continue to become a place where crime dominates and residents live in constant fear.”
Alli Afzal of Emerald Street, told the Laudium Sun, “We heard about the motorbike theft and it is really upsetting. Decent, hardworking people in our community cannot even earn a living because criminals constantly interfere with their work. They create obstacles at every turn, such as stealing a poor delivery driver’s motorbike or taking other essential belongings. It is heartbreaking to see honest people struggle, while these criminals continue to act without fear or consequence. Our community is not safe anymore. Residents are losing trust in the system because even when crimes are reported, it seems like nothing is done to catch the culprits. We need to punish all criminals who are committing wrongdoings in our community. Stronger policing, better security measures and strict consequences for offenders are urgently needed. Only then will residents feel safe again and be able to live and work without fear. We deserve to live in a place where hard work is respected and crime is not allowed to dominate.”
Naveed Ali, also of Emerald Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I honestly feel that crime is a huge concern in Laudium. Just recently, someone robbed me and took my cellphone. As a victim, I can tell you from my own experience that crime in Laudium is increasing and does not seem to be stopping, despite having street gates all around. Residents are living in constant fear and it feels like no matter what precautions we take, criminals still find a way. The police and the politicians really need to come up with a plan to protect the people in our community.”
