BCA drops case against rock stealer

The Blairgowrie Community Association (BCA) recently dropped the case it had opened at the Linden Police Station, after reaching an “amicable solution” with a man who had stolen rocks worth R9 000. The association’s chairperson Jed Kemery and committee member Gail Jelley explained that they opened the case two months ago, and closed it after the man turned himself in to Linden Police, and paid the association R3 000, on 27 October.

The association placed hundreds of rocks at the entrance to the Pinegowrie Post Office, Blairgowrie, for decoration two years ago. Since late last year rocks began disappearing. During the course of this year, the number of rocks taken became noticeable and the association stopped replacing them, for the neighbourhood to see the results of an ‘I will help myself’ attitude. It soon became too much to bear and the association opened a criminal case with Linden Police.

Security guards at the post office saw the man taking rocks, and reported his number plate and cellphone number to the association. Before Linden Police could find the man, he turned himself in. The association paid R9 000 to replace the rocks, but agreed with the man that he should only pay

R3 000 compensation. According to Jelley, about “one boot-full” of rocks were taken.

“It is strange that people think they can help themselves like that,” she remarked. The man who took the rocks is reportedly a regular customer at the post office. “We thought that if he goes to court he will have a criminal record,” Kemery said. “So we were caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Details: Blairgowrie Community Association 071 345 0209; Linden police 011 888 9212; Pinegowrie Post Office 011 888 1732.