Update: 13 November 11am
The spokesperson for Midrand Police Station, Sergeant Matome Tlamela gave the following tips for motor vehicle theft:
- Keep your vehicle locked at all times
- When your vehicle is parked, do not leave your keys in the car. Close all windows and the sunroof.
- Never leave your car running unattended
- Avoid leaving your valuables inside the car or where passerby’s can see them
- Do not leave your car title in the car ‘because too often a car thief is pulled over by the police but gets away with it because he or she can produce the auto registration to the police if required,’ said Sergeant Tlamela.
- Know where you are going so that you can avoid high crime areas
- Install anti-theft system in your vehicle if it does not have one
- Thieves prefer to work in the dark, always park your car in a well lit area
- On an incline, leave your car in a park or in gear with the wheel turned towards the curb or some other obstruction. This makes it harder for the thieves to tow your vehicle
- If confronted by a hijacker, do not resist. A car can be replaced, you cannot be replaced.
According to Ria Sebetsa Security, a vehicle was stolen during the early hours of Thursday morning (7 November) in Vorna Valley, shortly after a Road Closure Committee cancelled their night guard subscription with Ria Sebetsa Security.
CEO of Ria Sebetsa Security, Danny Maduray explained that the Committee cancelled their subscription because some residents were unable to cover the fee of the night guard.
Gavin Atkinson, treasurer for the Committee confirmed that the night guard was cancelled. He added that they have about 45 houses on the street but only 15 people were paying. Unfortunately, the family whose bakkie was stolen was one of the ones who paid.
“Now we are keeping it at 12 hours a day, seven days a week because we cannot afford a night guard. We did not have enough money but Danny from Ria Sebetsa Security has helped us so much. He has covered us for months, close to a year but we could not continue paying for security that people are not paying for.”
Atkinson said that some of the residents claimed that a night guard was a waste of money because it is ‘doing nothing’. “I go begging for money every month from those residents up and down that road and they don’t want to pay. Four days later, a car gets stolen.”
Maduray added, “It’s such a sad reality that our properties get taken away so easily by criminals when we least expect it. Unfortunately, in the current times, residents need to be mindful that security comes first.”
He explained that often security is the least considered when a household plans a budget. “This unfortunate incident happened just when the residents had just decided to cancel the night security in the first week.”
According to Maduray, Ria Sebetsa Security company had been protecting the area for three years and there was no criminal activity, until now. “Affordability will always be in question but we cannot put a price on our loved ones and valued possessions, therefore, we at Ria Sebetsa Security value our community and we are in talks with the committee of Gustav Preller to see how best we can assist them.”
Atkinson said they will be arranging a meeting with the residents next week to discuss a way forward and hopefully come to an agreement that will put everyone’s safety first. He is pleading with the residents of the area to come to the meeting and open up their pockets to ensure the safety of everyone.
Owner of the stolen bakkie Shaun Manie Vermaak expressed his anger at the way some of the residents have toyed with their safety. “I am very furious because I do contribute. If the guard had been there, my vehicle would still be here because I expected him to be there. There’s not much I can do now unfortunately, I’m stuck without a vehicle,” said Vermaak.
Vermaak also pleaded with the residents to pay for security to enable the presence of the 24-hour guard to ensure everyone’s safety as needed and expected.
Maduray said the car’s description is a white Nissan NP200 registration DN 89 JB GP and it has a white canopy with a green square and Handy-Men branding on it. He requested that if anyone spots a bakkie matching that description or if anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of this bakkie, they should contact Shaun Manie Vermaak on 084 335 3785 or Dominique on 076 779 7294.
He added that a case has been opened at the Midrand Police Station and an investigation is underway.
Related article:
