The growing influx of nyopes into the Laudium area continues, with the local police and the Gauteng Social Dept, clearly not interested in addressing the issue, despite numerous appeals to the authorities by the community to act against the influx.
Not only are these nyaopes, who have made the Laudium area their new home, causing a nuisance in the area, but many of them have turned to crime, stealing anything of some value, even if its just worth a few rand, so that they can buy drugs in order to continue with their drug habits. Businesses, private homes and religious places are all targets of these nyaopes, who often steal anything from garden taps to copper water pipes and even outdoor light fittings. In one of the latest incidents of crime in which nyaopes were allegedly involved, a shop in the Laudium CBD was subjected to theft. Ali – Shah who owns the shop, ‘Ahsaan General Dealers’ on 9th Avenue in the CBD said he is upset with the Laudium Police who he says are not interested in fighting crime in the area, saying that he called the police to respond to the latest crime carried out at his shop but that the police never responded. 35-year-old Ali told the Laudium Sun that last Wednesday at around midday, nyaopes came to his shop and stole cleaning mops and brooms and that when he spotted them stealing the items they ran away down the street with the stolen items. Ali added, “We gave chase as these nyaopes ran away down 9th Ave, with my goods which they stole from my shop. But then they ran into this abandoned house which is not far from the shop. This house is long being used by the nyaopes who live there and also hide the goods that they steal from shops and homes there. The police know about it so does the Councillor, but nothing is being done to get rid of these criminals from there.
Immediately after they went into this abandoned house, I called the Laudium Police to come and arrest these criminals, because I saw where these criminals went, but the police did not come. We also could see that these criminals climbed up into the ceiling of the house and were there. I then called the police again to tell them that these drug addicted criminals were hiding inside the ceiling and told them to come fast so that they could arrest these drug addicts, but the police never came. We are often told that the community should work with the police to fight crime, but how can we work with them when they are not interested. How can we trust the police because when we call them for assistance and tell them where the thieves are hiding they turn a blind eye.” Ali added, “This is not the first time these criminals have stolen in my shop, in fact this is the fourth time that they stole. These thieves are so daring that they are not even afraid of being caught, as they steal right in front of us. Even when I called the police the previous times when these thieves stole, the police did not bother to even come and take a statement. They just ignored me. Crime in Laudium is very high, especially petty crime, but the police are not taking it seriously. This abandoned house
which is not far from our shop is being used by these nyope guys who steal from us to feed their drug habits, then hide in the house after committing crime. I have informed the police about this house but they are doing nothing about it.
“I am calling on the community police forum and the police to do something about that abandoned house. This house is contributing to a lot of the crime which is taking place at our shops and homes.” Laudium Police Spokesperson, Simon Chokoe said he was not allowed to comment to the media. Mohammed Noor of the Laudium CPF, told the Laudium Sun, “We are aware of the problem at the vacant house, which is used by nyaopes and criminals who hide the goods that they steal in the ceilings. We have been many times to that house on 9th Ave with the police, but each time we go there the nyaopes run away or are not there.”
