Robberies on the rise at Pretoria cemetery

Police spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said the graveyard had become a hunting ground for criminals who robbed people who visited graves to clean or perform rituals.

“The station has opened cases of armed robbery and carjacking taking place at different times and days of the week. These incidents often happen to people who are coming to remove weeds around the graves of their loved ones or those who come to perform traditional rituals.”

Maluleka said passers-by who passed through the graveyard as a shortcut had also become victims.

“As the police, we also would like to encourage residents to visit the graveyard in groups at the time of day where one can see a person approaching from a distance. Notwithstanding the fact that some rituals require people to be at the graveyard early, we encourage them to do so in groups to be safer.”

He said that the police station would also like to assure community members that the area would be monitored 24 hours, to get rid of the perpetrators taking advantage of law-abiding citizens.

“The police are requesting members of the community who might have information that may lead to the arrest of these criminals to contact them on their Crime Stop number 08600-10111 or Rietgat SAPS 012-432-7806/7 or MySAPS app.”