As crime continues in the Erasmia and Laudium areas, the local police and the CPF continue to be seemingly clueless as to how to tackle the problem.
The CPF, meant to represent the community, is supposed to ‘interrogate’ the police during their meetings with them, concerning crime in the area. However, some residents claim that the local CPFs are in ‘bed’ with the police, preferring to be their ‘pals’ so that they can call on personal favours from the police, when any member of the CPF or their family members or friends are caught up with the law.
This follows, yet again, more serious crimes being reported to the Laudium Sun in the area this week, especially in Erasmia. In one of these latest incidents of crime, thieves ransacked a home on Kalkheuwel Street, Erasmia, this past Saturday night (April 18) at around 9pm. According to CCTV footage, a gang of four Black males broke into the Erasmia house, stealing a number of valuables including cash, a sound system and expensive clothes.
Family member, Aneesa Ismail, explained what transpired at their home on Saturday night to the Laudium Sun, “My family and I were not at home at the time of the break-in, as we were attending a birthday event. When we returned home at around 10pm, I immediately noticed that the front door of our house was broken. It appeared that the intruders gained entry through the front door after forcing it open. Once inside, the thieves stole a number of items, including cash, branded clothing, and a Sony sound system. The loss was only fully understood after checking everything inside the house and confirming that these items were missing. The situation became even more upsetting after reviewing the CCTV footage, which showed that four thieves entered the property and started ransacking the house, looking for valuables. This invasion into our private property has been very disturbing. To think that thieves were going through our rooms and cupboards without any fear. It is highly concerning that such crimes continue to happen in the area, without any consequence. We often read about crime in the Laudium Sun, but it is only when one becomes a victim of such terrible crime, that it hits you. What kind of awful situation are we are living in? My family and I are traumatized by this incident. As residents we are all living in fear and it is disturbing that we are unsafe in their own homes. The frequency of these incidents of crime in our area, creates constant worry for families who just want to live peacefully. Crime in Erasmia seems to be going out of hand and as residents we need solutions to this scourge of crime from the police, the CPF and the politicians. There has to be more effective action to address the worrying situation. Greater attention and stronger response from the authorities is needed, so that such cases can be properly investigated and prevented in the future. Residents want to feel protected in their homes without fear of being harmed, break-ins or loss of property. The expectation is that steps will be taken by those in authority to ensure better monitoring, quicker response, and stronger crime prevention measures so that communities can feel safe again.”
Abdul Sattar of Kalkheuwel Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The situation regarding the high crime in Erasmia has become deeply concerning for many residents, as crime appears to be increasing and creating a sense of insecurity within the community. There is a growing feeling that criminal activities are being carried out more openly than in the past, as if the police are no longer feared, which leaves ordinary people extremely worried about their safety and property. There is also a strong feeling among residents that more effective policing and harsher sentences by the Justice Department for serious offences could help reduce criminal activity, as many believe that current measures are not acting as a strong deterrent. The lack of consistent crime prevention and rapid response by the local police is seen as a major concern, especially when incidents of crime continue to occur in residential areas, without clear resolution. Residents are simply looking for reassurance that their complaints and safety concerns are being taken seriously and addressed effectively, by the police.”
