R15 000 reward offered for information on bike thieves
The couple has decided that enough is enough. They are offering a reward of R15 000 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to a conviction of the culprits.
Since the beginning of the year, local bikers and bike owners have been targeted by a cunning group of thieves.
Unofficial reports claim the number of stolen bikes is more than 70. A 125cc scooter was recovered last week.
The modus operandi has become clear; thieves steal the bike, push it away quietly and hide it in the veld around Newcastle, covering the bike with grass and leaves.
It remains unclear where the bikes are then stripped to be moved out of town.
For Elton and Natasha Bredenkamp, residents of Arbor Park, the determination of these thieves became all too clear on December 2.
Sometime between midnight and 3am, burglars entered the garage where Mr Bredenkamp’s KTM offroad as well as his son’s Yamaha offroad were parked.
“When I woke up in the morning, at about 5.30am, I opened the kitchen door,” said Mrs Bredenkamp. “That’s when I noticed the side door to the garage was standing open.”
A scene from an action movie greeted the couple. A fridge, which stands in the garage for extra storage, was found on top of their car. The side door of the garage had been forced open and the bike literally hauled over the front of the car and out the door.
The second bike was left behind, as Mr Bredenkamp had removed the front wheel to replace wheel bearings that very same day.
“My husband got up at about 12am to get something from the kitchen,” said Mrs Bredenkamp. “At that time everything was okay.”
The Bredenkamps’ home is adjacent to a pathway that runs between the houses. According to Mrs Bredenkamp, strange noises and dogs barking at all hours of the night are quite common.
“We did hear some noises, but thought it was just the dog next door barking at people walking on the pathway,” she said.
The thieves made off with a 2014 model KTM 300 SCX, without so much as being spotted by any of the neighbours.
“This has cost us a lot more than just a stolen motorbike,” she continued. “They damaged the roof and the bonnet of the car. You could literally see the dents where someone stood on the car. The fridge is also broken.”
However, the couple has decided that enough is enough. They are offering a reward of R15 000 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to a conviction of the culprits.
“We have decided to put up the reward, and will pay it to anyone who can give us information that will lead to the thieves being caught, and convicted in court,” said Mrs Bredenkamp.
If you have any information regarding the thieves, contact Natasha Bredenkamp on 076 271 1598.
