Brazen thieves target Redhill kennel

A REDHILL resident said she fears being targeted again in a robbery following the theft of several metal gates at her business on Belvedere Road. Anita van Rensburg (64), who owns and runs Punzo Kennels and Cattery said a group of six men armed with metal cutting equipment targeted the large dog section of her kennels almost a month ago.

She recently came forward to recount her terrifying ordeal following the loss of her elderly mother, who passed away shortly after the robbery.

The suspects, using a blue bakkie, parked on Chris Hani Road and used an informal footpath next to the train tracks which borders the rear of van Rensburg’s property to gain access to her home.

The lower half of Van Rensburg’s property is divided into two, with small and medium dog kennels situated next to her home, and the large dogs kennels next to the garage on the other side of the property.

“They must have scoped the place out before the robbery because I didn’t have any large dogs in my care when the suspects arrived. My domestic worker and I were tending to my elderly mother when we heard my dogs and those in my care go berserk. It was just after 5pm when the robbery took place and it was quite dark so initially I couldn’t see what was going on.

“When I noticed one of the suspects enter my side gate using some sort of bolt cutter I began blowing shrilly on my whistle. People across Chris Hani Road later told me they heard the sound. I also began screaming for help but the suspects were unbothered and continued dismantling and stealing the kennel gates. They took six gates in total and four galvanised palisade fencing. I was too scared to confront the men because I’m just a pensioner and I had no other means of protecting myself,” she said.

Van Rensburg said in total R15 000 worth of items were taken on the evening. While all the gates in the kennels have been replaced, Van Rensburg fears the suspects may return.

“The suspects had broken part of my fence to gain access to the house and loaded all the items into the bakkie parked on the road.

“I’ve now put more locks on all the gates but I fear these men will return and may harm me and the dogs in my care which is a terrifying prospect. I’ve got private security and a panic button but even with that these men still risked it,” she said.

A case of theft has been opened at Greenwood Park SAPS.

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