It’s 4am and all is silent in Richmond Road. A family hears an unfamiliar banging sound. An immediate sense of unease settles over the family and this is justified when they peep through a window and see two young men breaking open an electricity distributor box.

“I immediately knew that these young men were in the process of stealing the electrical cable. When they noticed that we looked through the window they ran away but thought that we were not interested and returned to destroying the electrical box,” said the resident who asked not to be named.

But the resident was interested and immediately ordered a family member to call the police.But the family’s hope of foiling a crime was dampened when police did not respond…at all. Fortunately the would-be cable thieves were disturbed and they fled without their loot of cables but power supply was interrupted until about 1pm on Friday.

Another disappointed resident from Richmond Road said she could not believe that police did not respond. “I can’t believe the police did not arrive by now, we are trying to curb crime in our neighbourhood but we need their help too,” said another resident.

Responding to the concerns, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel TM Mabaso said that no complaint could be traced and the shift on duty at the time of the report would resume duties on Friday, June 5 at 6am.

“I advise the community members to bring their complaints to the attention of the Station Commander so that necessary steps can be taken against the member/s concerned. “Members who misbehave will never be tolerated by this organisation,” commented Lt Col Mabaso.