Pensioner robbed of her special gift
An elderly woman was recently robbed of a birthday gift, a car, she received from her niece eight years ago.
Tools, a cellphone and books were also taken in an act 88-year-old Nellie Belligan describes as a nightmare.
The theft of her white Ford Fiesta has sparked concern about the same people who often offered to buy her car.
• Read: Smash-and-grab trio targets elderly female drivers – EMPD steps in
Belligan remembers locking all the car doors before leaving the car in the parking area.
Springs police spokesman Capt Johannes Ramphora says the theft of the vehicle left Belligan stranded.
She parked her car at the Springs Civic Centre at 12.30pm last Tuesday and waved at the car guard.
“I usually greet the car guard because it is the same person who watches over our cars every time I visit the civic centre,” she says.
Belligan and her son, Garth Belligan (61), returned an hour later to find her vehicle gone.
Because she had the key and the steering wheel was locked with a steering lock, the obvious question was how did they drive the vehicle.
“It is not a random question to ask the guard on duty whether he has seen anything.
“It’s just difficult to understand how he saw nothing.
“The car thieves obviously knew what they were doing,” she says.
• Also read: Elderly couple conned by well-mannered thieves
Belligan received the Fiesta from her niece on her 80th birthday and was very pleased with the vehicle.
She recently renewed her driver’s licence which she still has to collect.
“I do flower arrangements, assist with various functions at church and belong to a friendship club, therefore, I need my car,” she says.
Two months ago someone tried to break-in to her vehicle in Selcourt.
“I am quite impressed with the car guard who chased them away.
“You never known if it is the very same people who tried to break-in then, who took my car,” she says.
The loss of the tools, Garth’s cellphone and the books was an added blow for the senior citizen.
“I feel absolutely lost as it is my lifeline to get around.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she says.
However, Belligan says, “the Lord has been good to me”.
She says she has wonderful friends and family who offered to take her where she needs to.
“My hopes and prayers are the police will find my vehicle,” says Belligan.
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