As more and more streets of neighbouring blocks in the Laudium area are closed off with security gates, the areas not cordoned off remain vulnerable to crime.
One of the areas that is not closed off, as it is impractical to do so, due to the high traffic in the area is the Laudium CBD. Businesses in the area are dependant on both local residents and those from outside to come into the area to do their shopping in the CBD, with the taxi industry also using the CBD as its main point to pick-up and drop-off passengers.
Thus, most businesses in the area are presently also against the closing of the area. However, crime in the CBD and the large number of nyaopes in the area, remains a problem for businesses. In one of the latest incidents of crime, a restaurant on the corner of 9th Avenue and Tangerine Street in the CBD, was targeted by a thief in the early hours of the morning. The incident which occurred at around 2am this past Tuesday (October 22) involved the thief, a known nyaope in the area, smashing the front window of Bismillah Restaurant, near the Laudium Hotel, with a brick in the hope of getting inside. However, after smashing the painted window, the thief realised that there were burglar bars behind the window, which restricted the thief from gaining access into the shop. The thief then resorted to ripping off cables through the burglar bars and even stole an outside solar light before fleeing. Manager of the restaurant, Ahmed Rani, told the Laudium Sun, “This was the first incident of this nature to happen at tour restaurant. We are not sure what the thief intended to steal if he had gained access into our shop.” Iqbal Hossain, chef at the restaurant told the Laudium Sun, ”Our security company works only until the time we close in order to protect us and our customers, so they were not available at the time of the incident.” Ahmed added, “The security at the Laudium Hotel, heard the window being smashed and immediately came to the shop, where they found the nyaope guy with the cables. They then held him and called the police who took him away.” One of the security persons, Maria Moletsai stated, “The suspect looked intoxicated as he could hardly keep balance whilst we held him and awaited the police. He was expressing vulgar words and wanted to free himself and run away, but we held onto him. We very seldom see the police during this early time of the morning and hope that there will be more visible patrols in the area.” The suspect was detained by the Laudium police and a case of malicious damage to property was opened. However, a number of people told the Laudium Sun that the suspect had since been released and was seen on the streets in the CBD on Thursday (yesterday). The local police refused to comment on the matter.
