Xtreme Padel in Glen Austin hit by series of solar system thefts
An alarming number of solar system thefts occurred in several parts of Midrand, and locals are starting to notice this pattern.
Owner of Xtreme Padel and Glen Austin resident Ganas Naidoo experienced his most recent break-in attempt in the early hours of March 30.
Intruders breached the property at around 04:20, but were foiled by a security alarm before they could steal anything. The incident followed a calculated pattern and series of attempts.
At 22:00 the previous evening, the electric fence triggered an alert. Security company TRSS was called and found nothing wrong. At 02:00, the fence went off again.
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Believing it to be a fault, Naidoo’s team switched it off, and the thieves struck two hours later. “They tested us twice to see what’s happening,” Naidoo said. “We thought it was faulty, so we switched the alarm off the fence.”
The intruders removed bricks from a shared perimeter wall to enter the property, broke a side window, and used heavy steel to force open a burglar gate before reaching the area housing the padel court’s solar batteries. A detector picked them up before they could complete the theft.
It was the fourth time the property had been hit through the same entry point.
On at least two other occasions, thieves stole solar batteries and inverters, including eight batteries from a storeroom in one visit, and two sets of batteries in another. Naidoo believes the thieves have inside knowledge of the property. “Obviously someone is telling them where the stuff is.”
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He added that workers employed by his original solar installer were among the few people who knew the layout. “I’m not saying it’s them, but all the people putting in solar panels, just make sure you check out your installers.”
Naidoo said police were aware of the cases but appeared stretched by the volume of solar theft in the area.
He noted that Space Age Independent School had experienced similar incidents. He is now appealing to the broader community to secure solar equipment with steel clamps and ensure robust camera and beam systems are in place.
The Midrand Reporter contacted SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane for comment on the cases opened regarding this matter. Police comment will be published once received.
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