A family was left robbed, not only of their possessions, but of their trust in the police following a burglary last week.
This was after the family was met with ‘poor service delivery’ from the police after their house had been burgled.
The burglary was committed during the afternoon of May 31 on Gladstone Street, Dundee. According to the homeowner, who wishes to remain anonymous, “my family and I had gone shopping at about 11:15am. Upon arriving back at 2:30pm, I noticed that the door of my house was broken and my house was left upset as thieves ransacked it”.
After surveying the disorderly house and noticing that jewellery and two play-station games had gone missing, the homeowner alerted the police. Much to his dismay, he was told that that the police could not come to the scene but that he should rather come in personally and report the case.
Upon doing so, the disgruntled homeowner was met with queues at the police station and promptly returned home after waiting for a while without receiving help.
Once the homeowner returned, he began fixing the broken door for fear of the safety of the children living in the house. He was then contacted by the police who told him not to repair the door. The police claimed, ‘it will tamper with any evidence’.
Hours after the ordeal the police had still not arrived. They only arrived the next afternoon to take statements, and three days after the burglary to take fingerprints.
Up until June 10 they had not received feedback from the police.
The SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Mbense, was contacted for comment and the complaint was forwarded to him. He sprang to action and immediately contacted the family to set up a meeting with the Station Commander and ordered for the correct steps to be followed.
An investigation will be conducted, but at the time of going to print, no details were available.
Burglary Blues for Family
An investigation will be conducted, but at the time of going to print, no details were available.
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