“More Cautious”, Benoni, writes:
It was a horrible feeling to be woken up by my daughter at 4am the other morning asking me why someone was in daddy’s bakkie.
My husband and I flew out of bed, pulled the blinds up and switched the outside light on.
ALSO READ:
Disabled also want to enjoy Homestead
There was indeed a stranger rummaging through the bakkie and when the light came on he was like a deer caught in the headlights, except he didn’t freeze, he fled – over the gate and into the darkness.
I saw he had some clothing in his hands as he ran for the gate and thought thank heavens this was all he’d taken, as the bakkie is full of my husband’s work tools.
Then we saw one of my husband’s drills lying on the ground behind the bakkie. Clearly, he was going to take that too.
After we all calmed down and went back to bed, I battled to fall asleep, thinking about how small, young and skinny the guy was, and the fact that he decided to take off with the clothes instead of anything of real value.
It was really cold outside so I was OK with the fact he at least had some clothing because he looked like he really needed it – that and a square meal or two.
But we found the clothing near the gate inside our yard later that morning, so he’d obviously ditched these in fear of them impeding his hasty getaway.
Whatever his story, we were glad to have recovered the two jackets he’d taken.
Nothing about this thief’s personal circumstance takes away from the fact that it is traumatic and horrible to catch a criminal in the act on your own property.
The reason my daughter woke up is that she heard something that sounded like glass breaking. We found a glass ashtray with an orange lighter in it behind the bakkie – not ours. This must have been what he’d dropped.
His lesson that night may have been don’t drop your stuff and ours was to pay more attention to what’s lying around our yard which could entice a thief – and to always remember to switch the outside light on before we go to bed.
And, was the bakkie even locked? Something to ponder.
As is the norm in South Africa, I suppose I must be grateful we weren’t harmed.
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Boksburg Advertiser, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail
