Criminals target pensioners
Several car break-ins at Deneys Conradie Residentia have left residents in fear of sleeping.
During the month of April, five cars were broken into and four car batteries were stolen.
It all started on April 6, when the first car break-in took place.
“I was on holiday when Gert O’Kelly (the caretaker) called to say my car had been broken into,” said 63-year-old Hendrika Fourie, who lives in the council-owned block of flats.
O’Kelly opened the damaged bonnet of the Opel Cadet to find the battery missing.
“When I returned, I opened a case and am waiting for feedback,” Fourie said.
Fourie only recently received a new battery, which her children bought for her.
“I couldn’t afford to buy a battery but now I have one, I just need to fit it into my car,” she said.
The very next day, on April 7, another resident, Isaac Brett, was a victim of a car break-in, but did not open a case.
“I removed my car battery and, shortly after, my car was broken into, but nothing was taken,” he said.
“I did not open a case because nothing was stolen.”
However, the 67-year-old is worried about the safety of the residents’ vehicles.
Betsie Kolver (80) was also a victim of car battery theft, on April 16.
“This affects our health, we worry about our cars during the nights,” said the resident.
The pensioner owns a Volkswagen Citi Golf and opened a case at the Benoni Police Station.
“They broke my window, which the insurance paid for, but I had to buy a new battery which cost half of my pension money,” she said.
“I cannot afford another break-in, because I cannot afford to pay for a new battery again.”
O’Kelly provided a brief break down of the car break-ins.
“The first was on April 6, followed by April 7, 8, 13 and 16,” he said.
“The municipality came on April 11, to increase security with more razor wire.
“But there were two more break-ins, so we need to secure the area a bit more, so that residents can sleep peacefully.”
According to O’Kelly, the grass in the veld bordering the premises could be a contributing factor to the crime because people can hide in the long grass.
Benoni Police Station spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele urged people to report any crime.
“Only two cases were opened for these break-ins,” she said.
“One case had fingerprints but the results were sent to find a match and we are still waiting.
“However, the second case returned with no finger prints.
“Both of these cases are closed, but when the fingerprint match returns, we will reopen that case.”
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