Despite the Laudium and Erasmia areas seeing a dramatic rise in the installation of street gates all over, theft more so petty theft, certainly has not stopped, but seems to have decreased.
The large number of gates installed by neighbouring residents in various blocks has been the result of desperation by the community to fight the high crime in their areas and keep criminals out as much as they can. However areas not closed off by these security gates continue to face crime, including petty crime, with the latest incident reported to the Laudium Sun, being another theft at the premises of an NGO situated opposite the PMT Jewel Str Mosque. The premises of ‘The Garden Social Services Home for the Visually Impaired,’ situated at the corner of Jewel Street and 5th Ave was once again targeted by thieves, believed to be nyaopes. It was this past Wednesday morning (October 16), when workers got to the home, that the theft of the remote gate motor was discovered. An assistant at the home for the visually impaired, 42 year old Kefilwe Manganyi told the Laudium Sun, “When myself and other staff members came to work early on Wednesday morning, we were shocked to discover that the gate motor was missing, together with two of its batteries. We don’t know when they were stolen but we suspect this theft occurred during the night. This is not the first time the motors or batteries of the gate have been stolen. As we are not so long here, it was not very long when thieves also stole the motor of the gate and the batteries. Crime in Laudium is getting very much out of hand. I don’t know how much money my bosses spent to buy and replace the batteries and motor, but what I heard is that they are very expensive. Having a remote controlled gate is very convenient and good for security as not anyone can enter our place, as they have to first buzz and then we check who is at the gate and only if the person is known to us or has a valid reason to visit, then we open the gate from inside. Now until the gate motor is replaced we have to use padlocks to lock the gates at our centre and have to now go outside each time someone comes to unlock and open the gate. We were using the remote control to close and open, but now we are doing things in the old ways by using padlocks. We hope the police find the criminals who are behind these crimes at our place. We are still waiting for them to catch the criminals behind the previous theft also.”
*’The Garden Social Services Home for the Visually Impaired’ on Jewel Str, Laudium, where the theft of the gate motor and batteries was discovered this past Wednesday morning (Oct 16).*
Laudium liaison officer, Sgt Simon Chokoe told the Laudium Sun, “I cannot officially comment to you on crime matters as the Laudium Station does not anymore have a media liaison officer.”
Tshwane Communication Coordinator Johan Van Dyk said there was no case reported at the Laudium Police Station regarding this case of a gate motor and batteries being stolen.
*Kefilwe Manganyi, who is employed at the Home for the Visually Impaired on Jewel Str said she hopes police catch those responsible for the theft.*
*The empty bracket from where the gate motor and batteries were stolen.*