BUSINESS owners in New Germany have been blighted with a number of robberies since late last year and strongly believe these criminals have been pawning or selling the stolen goods to second-hand shops or scrap metal yards in Pinetown.
Chris Smit who owns a motorcycle repair shop said his business premises had been broken into four times already.
“The first time they broke through the roof, found a way to bypass all security alarms, kicked in the dry wall and helped themselves to all the laptops, money, and whatever else they could get their hands on. The second time they stole the sound system and odds and ends. The third time they stole all scrap metal from the outside of the premises and roof sheeting,” said Smith.
The last incident on 31 March during the Easter weekend was the last straw for Smith. He said he arrived at work at 8.15am, disarmed the alarm and saw the sound system laying on the floor. He became suspicious. The robber who was hiding in the building got a fright and fled through the roof.
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“These criminals usually operate in the early morning between 5.30am and 9am. A customer of mine who has a business in Nipper Road has video footage of their break in at 10am,” said Smith.
He added that he often saw people carrying goods and walking around New Germany. One day he approached a man and asked him where he was taking the goods to and the man told him he was going to sell it at a scrap metal shop.
“We as citizens cannot confiscate the goods as we don’t know if its stolen or not, but it sure looks that way. My concern is these scrap metal shops – do they know what goods they are buying? Is it legal or not?” said Smith.
Another business owner, Rakesh Ganess, said his premises was broken into twice, with a similar force of entry through the roof. He said the robbers ransacked his premises and stole computers and laptops. There have been no arrests to date.
Smith’s friend, who owns a scrap metal business and preferred not to be named due to conflict of interests, said scrap metal shops have to follow rules and regulations.
“Firstly, you need a licence to operate and certain procedures need to be followed with the Second-hand Goods Act. Customers need an ID to purchase goods and bought materials need to be held for a seven-day period. When the law isn’t followed, it creates a problem,” said the anonymous source.
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He and Smith said that the police had been called on many occasions about vagrants who hang out in an alley next door to a scrap metal shop, N&H Scrap Metals on Qashana Khuzwayo (Shepstone Road). However the police officer said “the alley is ‘no-man’s land’ so the police cannot do anything about it”.
“Surely the police have the authority to remove these vagrants from the alley and to do regular checks or to check the register books at the scrapyards to keep track of the second-hand goods and scrap metals that are being brought in?” questioned Smith.
Police responds
Captain Bongumusu Manqele, Pinetown Cluster SAPS spokesman, said it is the duty of the police to arrest people who are found in possession of suspected stolen property.
He also confirmed that N&H Scrap Metal’s dealer is registered at Pinetown SAPS as a scrap dealer and recycle depot. Registration certificates were issued to the dealer in 2016.
“The Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) do advise dealers to keep their premises clean. Compliance inspections are conducted on a monthly basis by a DSO. Registers and goods on premises are checked while doing an inspection,” said Manqele.
He added that the business robbery cases in New Germany are still under investigation.
Hennie Thompson, owner of N&H Scrap Metals said the alley is part of their premises. She created a separate entrance for customers to come through so they may scale their goods and leave via the same alley entrance, as she did not allow walk-in customers on her premises.
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