Thieves make a rush break-in at Hush Car Wash, while CPF push away their responsibilities

While the head of the Laudium CPF, Zahid ul-Zama, who is also the chairperson of the the South African Pakistan Association, together with some other members of the CPF, are busy promoting the ANC and Cllr Naeem Patel of the ANC, crime continues to be a huge concern for residents.

This follows yet another week, with the Laudium Sun again receiving complaints of crime in the area.

In one of the latest complaints received for stats purposes, two Black males broke into the storeroom of ‘Hush Car Wash’ on 6th Avenue, in the Laudium CBD, in the early hours of the previous Monday morning. The pair of thieves managed to steal a high-pressure washer, a pressure gun and hose pipe, without being spotted by the Laudium Police or the local CPF patrollers.

Andrew Ignatus, the manager of ‘Hush Car Wash’ on 6th Avenue in Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “There was a break-in at our car wash premises, which took place last Monday, in the early hours of the morning at around 2am. After coming to work in the morning, we immediately noticed that something was wrong, as we found the front door lock broken. Upon checking the CCTV footage, we discovered that two Black guys broke into the locked storeroom, by breaking open the door lock. Our storeroom is located within the same premises, at the back part of the car wash. It is meant to be a secure area where we keep our essential and expensive equipment for daily operations. Unfortunately, the thieves were able to enter our premises and take whatever they wanted. According to the footage, they went straight into the storeroom where our equipment was kept and they did not waste much time inside. The thieves stole many items, including a high-pressure washer, a pressure gun, a hose pipe and other items from the storeroom, before fleeing the scene. These items are very important for our business and the theft has affected our daily work. It is very disappointing to see how criminals are targeting businesses like ours, which are trying to operate honestly and serving the community. Crime in Laudium is really becoming a serious problem. Each and every day, there is something bad happening in our area. Whether it is break-ins, robberies, or other criminal activities, it feels like there is no end to it. As business owners, we are constantly worried about the safety of our property, customers and our staff. There must be more police visibility on our street and in surrounding areas. Right now, it seems like criminals are not afraid of anything or anyone and they are acting freely without any fear of being caught. What is even more concerning is that many of these break-ins are now happening even during the day, which shows how bold these criminals have become. We also need stronger community involvement and better co ordination between law enforcement and private security companies. If there is a visible presence of security, it can help deter criminals and make the area safer for everyone. This incident has been a setback for us, but we hope that the police, CPF and the politicians will take stronger action to address the crime situation in Laudium. Something needs to be done urgently to protect businesses and residents before the situation gets even worse.”

Bilal Qurashi of 6th Avenue, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I heard about the break-in at the car wash and it is very concerning to see that criminality in the Laudium CBD area is rapidly increasing. This situation is becoming extremely difficult for everyone trying to earn an honest living. Running any enterprise under such conditions feels risky and it creates fear among business owners who are simply trying to make an honest living and support their families. What makes matters worse is that crime incidents like these are happening frequently and it seems like there is no real control by the police or the CPF, over lawlessness. Residents no longer feel secure, whether at home or at work. When criminals start attacking businesses, it sends a strong message that nowhere is anyone protected. This is not only damaging financially but also mentally, as it causes constant stress and anxiety within the community. In my opinion, there needs to be much stronger punishment for offenders in this country. The current system does not seem to be strict enough to stop wrongdoing. Because consequences are not severe, many offenders continue committing illegal acts without any fear. If tougher measures were introduced, it could act as a deterrent and reduce the number of criminal incidents we are seeing today. Right now, it feels like unlawful behavior is increasing because there are no serious repercussions. People who commit these acts believe they can get away with it and that mindset is very dangerous for society. Without firm action, crime will continue to grow and spread into every part of our daily lives.”