Police are investigating a business burglary which occurred at Property Upreed in Marais Street on June 7 where five vehicles, a laptop, microwave oven, office chairs, two generators and tools were stolen.
According to business owner Stephen Jones, CCTV footage clearly shows how a group of around 10 to 15 suspects (all wearing balaclavas) moved around in a calm fashion after they gained access to the property by forcing the electric sliding gate off its rail. The footage also revealed how the burglars made their way to the back of the property and how they broke into one of the offices where the keys to all the vehicles are usually kept. It is also in that office where they took the laptop and office chairs, before moving on to the vehicles that were parked outside.
One-by-one, the suspects made off with two Isuzu bakkies, two Ford Ranger bakkies and one Mitsubishi Pajero, which are all branded with Property Upreed stickers and fitted with tracking devices. Although one of the stolen generators were later found in Kwa-Thema, there is still no trace of the stolen vehicles. Jones told HERAUT he is faced with an estimated financial loss of R1,5 million as a result of the burglary.
“I am gutted by the burglary. It sets me back, because I am unable to perform any work, due to the loss of my equipment, tools and the vehicles that had been stolen,” a distraught Jones said.
SAPS Heidelberg confirmed that there has been a huge spike in crime, especially motor vehicle theft and business burglaries.
According to Captain Thivhulawi Tshilate (spokesperson) a car was stolen at El Shadai Printers on June 4. The silver Ford Etios with registration number FN16BNGP was parked outside the business and at around 14:30, the owner noticed that her car was stolen.
In another incident, a suspect was arrested on June 5 after a burglary at Heidelberg Motorcycles in Voortrekker Street. The suspects apparently gained access to the building through the roof of the business and according to the owner, it had been the second burglary at his business this year.
Another burglary occurred on June 6 at Battery Co in Schoeman Street.
