When the lights are out, people have gone to sleep and the night air is cool outside, you’ll notice the faint yellow flicker of a candle in the distance if you keep a watchful eye.
The Candle Man has come a-knocking at the West Rand Association for the Physically Disabled every month for more than three years. But, he’s no friendly visitor. Every time he comes by between 11pm and 1am, he steals bits and pieces of what he can without being caught.
Just a month ago, the Candle Man found his way into the disability home’s kitchen area, dripping candle wax all over the floor at the door. This time he got away with 30kg of mince and a few grains of sugar in an almost empty packet.
Usually though, it’s not a minor crime as this.
Saturday night, 19 September, centre care worker Maria Kgatle was awake in her room, watching the camera monitors she had set up there. She saw the flicker of the candle and soon saw a shadowy figure approaching from the far end of the backyard. Maria called staff member Wimpie Greef and the two watched as the Candle Man walked around a corner, took a ladder that was standing against a wall, and made his way to the garage.
At that point, Wimpie called EPR Security to report the break-in.
Most months, when the Candle Man makes his rounds at the centre, he caused about R30 000 worth of damage, Wimpie claimed. He forced open cars and the bus’ doors and bonnet to steal something as small as a battery. In the end, to replace everything he had damaged would cost much more than what he would make from selling a car battery.
That night, though, security officers finally apprehended the man as he attempted to scale a wall, leaving behind his beanie on the top edge. He later was taken away by police.
