Primrose SAPS urged residents to install extra security in their homes and properties when going away for long holidays.

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This warning comes after Gerdview resident, Richard Smith, had to cut his December holiday short to return home to an empty house.

Primrose SAPS cooperate communications officer Sergeant Styles Maome said Smith went on holiday for almost 20 days.

“Vagrants moved into his property in his absentia and occupied the house.

“Gradually they sold everything they couldn’t use or eat. Smith had no security system or someone looking after his house,” said Maome.

According to Smith, he took a well-deserved holiday between December 3 and December 24.

“On the evening of December 24, I received a call to say that some parts of my Nissan 200 SX S14 were being sold on Facebook.”

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Smith said this racing vehicle was locked up in the garage at home.

However, when he arrived at his home, he was locked out.

“Looking over the wall I saw people in the house. I immediately went to the Primrose police station.

“The police escorted me to the house and instructed the occupants to open the locked gate. There were two men and a woman in the house,” said Smith.

Upon entering the property, Smith realised that his Toyota Corolla, a BMW RS, a 1200 motorbike, a Botswana Venter Special camping trailer, a friend’s white Nissan 200 SX S13 and a Big Boy scooter along with engines, chassis and gearboxes were missing.

“The door to the garage was knocked down and the SX was completely stripped. All that was left was the body, which was too noticeable to take, as it was bright pink and well known in the SX group,” said Smith.
“All my tools, shelving and two-post lift were missing.”

Following the police into the dark house Smith saw that his security gate was forced open. The house was completely cleaned out of all furniture, bedding, clothes, pots, and pans.

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“My daughter’s clothes are gone. The house had been stripped of taps, window fittings, basins, wall plugs, DB board, geyser, and stove.

“The house was completely gutted. The plumbing pipe outside was also stripped off the walls,” he said.

Richard said according to the vagrants, they saw no one was at the house and moved in approximately two weeks before Christmas.

“They said they only took away the scrap metal and that ‘gangsters’ had arrived at the house while they were there. These ‘gangsters’, they said, took everything away in trucks and trailers,” said Smith.

“After accumulating items for the past 17 years, I own nothing. What an amazing Christmas present. I had to spend Christmas day at the police station, trying to document all that had been stolen.

“The police followed the trail and found a number plate of the Botswana Venter Trailer at one of the houses.

“They then went to another house where they found my friend’s white SX, which was completely stripped and badly damaged,” said Smith.

“The person told the police that he had bought the car for R10 000 but had not paid the people yet, as he was waiting for the papers. A radiator from the SX was recovered at another house. Two people were arrested,” said Smith.

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He said he literary had to start his life over and rely on residents to assist the police in recovering some of his items.

“We have heard of house break-in where normally a few appliances are taken, but this is extreme,” said Richard.

Maome said the police recovered Smith’s lounge suite at a pawn shop, which led them to recover floor covering and some shelving that had been in his garage.

“Two people were arrested for being in possession of illegal items but the case was thrown out of court for lack of evidence in connecting them to the actual break-in,” said Maome.

“The police are appealing to the community to supply information that can be of help to this matter,” said Maome.

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He encouraged residents to visit the police station before their holidays to inform the officers.

“We will register your details on our list and patrol around your house for safety or in case there is an emergency we will know whom to contact,” said Maome.

“It’s also advised to keep a healthy relationship with your neighbours so they can keep an extra eye on your property in your absentia,” said Moame.

He said they would continue patrolling around Primrose and provide residents with tips during their door-to-door house break-in safety awareness campaigns.