Burglars target repair store

KAY Rai, an Umbilo businessman who has been trading on Magwaza Maphalala (Gale) Street for more than 35 years has been hit by crime again.

Rai said he arrived at his spare and repair shop at 7.30am on Saturday morning to see his glass door shattered and security gate cut and a number of his customers’ appliances stolen.

“I immediately called Umbilo police and officer Magwaza said I should come to the station if I want to complain because it’s very busy, and he slammed the phone down,” said an angry Rai.

“I called another officer and he seemed fed up with us complaining about the crime, but we are a small business and it costs us a fortune to replace glass and get the burglar guards fixed,” he added.

After many break ins last year, which were reported in the Berea Mail, Rai said police had carried out night patrols in the area for a month after the burglaries, but these had soon stopped.

“Nothing keeps these criminals out, locks, chains, security doors and burglar guards seem useless and they walk around with big cutters. Surely the police can spend time and sort these robbers out.

“Everytime we drive to the shop we are fearful and anxious about another break in,” he added.

Charles Chetty, owner of Electrical Supplies a neghbouring business on the street said he has been hit three times since last year in as many months. “They took our computers the first time but by the third break in, this month, we had our computers bolted,” he said.

Communications Officer at Umbilo SAPS, Beverly Manqle said Mr Rai was welcome to the the matter further if he was treated unfairly. “He can come through and make a statement or meet with the Station Commander,” she said, adding that the officer should have apologised if there were no vans available to attend to his complaint.