Following an article “Smash-and-grab warning” on the Addie’s website residents feel they are no longer safe.
This is what some of the community members had to say on our Facebook page:
- Charl de Beer: “Just wondering how something takes place more than twice within weeks? Once perhaps but not more than that.”
- Stella Olivier (translated from Afrikaans): “Hope they can do something about this. How long has this been going now and nothing is being done?”
- Melissa du Preez: “If the police know this is happening, where and how often, then why aren’t there police to do something about it?”
- Leighshe Cass: “It’s been going on for a while. I had mine in August at the same robot.” (First Avenue and Second Street)
- Rolene Naidu: “The robot outside one of the stores is especially dangerous. My son’s tablet was grabbed out of his hands and we witnessed them stealing a step ladder from the back of a bakkie.”
- Ashmika Mungul: “My cellphone was taken from me on Friday afternoon whilst I stopped at a red robot on Fifth Avenue… Springs is really getting bad.”
Captain Johannes Ramphora, spokesman for the Springs police, says the police do regular patrols in the areas where smash-and-grabs take place.
“We patrol the street, in sector vehicles, as well as on foot,” he says.
Ramphora adds that they patrol throughout the day, but especially during the hours when the smash-and-grabbing is known to happen regularly.
The community is strongly urged to exercise caution and hide any valuables from sight, and be aware of what is going on in the vicinity at all times.
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