Thieves stealing from cars are ignoring the fact that there are car guards in the Springs Central Business District (CBD).
This is the complaint of two car guards looking after cars between the Addie’s office on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Eight Street and the Avenues Shopping Centre two blocks down the road.
David Molopo and Thembinkosi Herald Makubane, both who are guarding their spots for 15 years, say they see regularly how car windows are getting smashed with stones and goods stolen from cars that are parked in their area.
The thieves mostly steal goods or car radios from the vehicles, but Magubane says cars always start disappearing during the Christmas season.
They say many people parking their cars don’t want the two to watch their vehicles but if something happens, these car owners complain and accuse them of being part of the plot.
This job of being car guard is dangerous and the thieves at times strike where they don’t see.
Makubane says he many times alert the Avenues’ security guards about thieves long before they do any thing.
Another complaint of Molopo and Makubane is that people will not pay them, even if they watched the cars for a whole day.
Life is expensive and getting to and from work from their homes in KwaThema sometimes costs more than half of what they earn for the day.
