Alert elderly woman botches car theft attempt
An elderly resident's car was almost stolen at a Wilro Park grocery store.
On May 8 at about 14:00 Linda Rademeyer, an elderly resident, almost became part of the high crime statistics in the country.
Rademeyer went to the local grocery store in Wilro Park. While inside a person bumped against her and allegedly stole her car keys.
According to Rademeyer she immediately realised her keys were missing from her raincoat’s pocket and rushed outside. Her car was parked in front of the store in the disabled parking space as she has difficulty walking.
She noted when she arrived at her car that the door had already been unlocked, luckily she was too fast for the alleged robbers and they didn’t get away with her car.
“I received a case number from the police, I have to have new car keys made, as well as house and gate keys. They are targeting the elderly and it has to end. It is really unpleasant to do shopping there now,” Rademeyer said.
Captain Juanita Yorke, spokesperson for Roodepoort police stated, “I can confirm a docket was opened at Roodepoort police and the investigation conducted by the specialised unit is ongoing.”
Yorke also mentioned similar cases have occurred. She urged the community to stay vigilant, to be sure their car doors are locked and the windows are closed, to park in secure places and to make sure the car-watchers have serial licenses and further not to leave any valuables in the car where it is visible, for example rather put handbags and laptops in the boot.
She concluded the same rules apply to houses, be sure all the doors are locked and the windows are closed.
