The bakkie was stolen on November 9.
Mr Sudesh Roopnarain, a resident who’s surveillance camera captured most of the action, said the 20 minutes it took the men to seal the bakkie was enough for the community to notice and stop the act.
“If we were vigilant enough and working together as residents, we could have stopped this. One man is seen walking, surveying the area. He is followed by a white Ford Focus. The men took their time to steal the bakkie, which had been parked next to someone’s yard for some time. Everything happening in the camera footage is clearly suspicious. After they finished, the suspects drove off in the two vehicles. Later, our volunteer security guard is seen walking slowly to inform the residents about the theft,” said Mr Roopnarain.
He added that the guard and the residents could do better.
“The guard could have called 10111, or sent a ‘call back’ to any resident. The residents could then have called the police. This shows we are not vigilant enough. We need to bring back the culture of neighbourliness. Know your neighbour. Know his car. If there are cars that you do not know in his driveway, call him. It is not being nosey but attentive, and caring for your neighbour,” he said.
Mr Roopnarain said the street guard told him about the incident.
“I went back to my house to check the footage. My neighbour had already called the police and the tracking company. The SAPS arrived and I was told the car had been recovered in Soweto,” he said.
He called on residents to be active and to join the fight against crime.
“We will have to form street committees and join the community police forum,” said Mr Roopnarian.
The Cleveland SAPS communications officer, Constable Mpho Mashakane, said police officers are investigating a case of theft of motor vehicle following the incident.
