“IT’s like I’m living in a cage.”
This is how Bluff businessman, Vigeon Govender describes his home, a fortress he intends to fortify with even more security upgrades after his property was stalked out by criminals.
The recent scare took place on Saturday, 14 January at about 9pm when four men were reportedly watching their home in Hornsea Road while he and his wife were out for the night.
His neighbour noticed a man suspiciously standing by their garage, watching the Govender’s house. When he asked what he was doing, the man said he was urinating. “Not believing his story, the neighbour and a few of his family members cornered the suspicious-looking man and prevented him from running,” said Govender. The neighbour, then noticed two other men standing in the corner, watching them. They suddenly began signaling a car which was parked off further along the road.
“My neighbour said the driver in the car sped up towards them, jumped out and began to pepper spray them, blinding them so they couldn’t see them get away. But his wife who wasn’t sprayed managed to record the registration number and alerted the police,” added Govender.
“I feel it’s the same men who tried to burgle my home last year,” said a frustrated Govender.
On 16 December, his home came under attack by three men. His next door neighbour, who prefers not be named, said he heard the dogs barking and then heard metal fall to the ground. He went to peek over the wall to see what the commotion was about and found three men trying to break in through the front door of the house. “I shouted at them, telling them they are stealing and I will call the police but they seemed unfazed and calmly said ‘don’t worry’ and just walked off and disappeared,” said the neighbour.
Govender, who was shocked to hear the story, wasted no time in beefing up the security. “They lifted the main gate off it’s railing to gain entrance to my property. What more can I do? I have every security feature available and yet I still feel unsafe. How much must I spend to keep these perpetrators out of my home and business? I’m living in a cage and I have a great fear that one day these criminals will just walk in and shoot us all. They don’t care about lives,” he said angrily.
The neighbour who always keeps a watchful eye on the houses said he is so used to the crime. “It’s sad how it has become a norm. What are we living for when these criminals are been given so much freedom that they can pepper spray people without fear? What if that was a gun? We are not safe.”
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