WATCH: Pretoria east family unimpressed by alleged shoddy police work, after theft
On January 17, after Rekord sent an enquiry, police spoke to the complainant and the investigating officer and said the matter was being attended to after a theft that occurred a month ago.
An Erasmuskloof resident is fuming at the Brooklyn police he accused of closing a case of theft he opened for lack of evidence despite submitting video footage of the incident.
According to Tshitse Mosiane, he received a message from Brooklyn police stating “all leads followed up – case closed. Docket will be re-opened upon new leads”.
Mosiane had opened the case after his surveillance system caught someone trying to steal his solar lights.
He said he was unhappy that the case was closed without the police visiting him or obtaining finger print evidence from his home.
According to Mosiane, he lived in an area that had been riddled by crime since an illegal informal settlement mushroomed more than five years ago.
He said the Wolwespruit informal settlement was on the corner of Delmas Road and Solomon Mahlangu Drive.
He said his family – his wife, kids and grandchildren – had just returned home from a late lunch to watch the Fifa World Cup final.
“As we were watching Argentina vs France game upstairs, my wife witnessed somebody running about in our yard.”
Mosiane said they went to investigate but the man had vanished, but not before he had loosened solar lights at the gate and perimeter fence.
He said his surveillance system caught the man when he returned for the solar lights in his braai area.
WATCH:
“Around 19:00, the criminal came back and we activated the panic button, however he managed to flee yet again. Around 21:30 he returned.
“When my security provider watched the footage the following day, we noticed that the man had stolen solar lights, a gas cylinder and had been on the property three times that day.”
Mosiane said he opened a case with police and gave them the footage, however police never investigated the case.
“They have never been to my house. Instead they phoned to tell me they were on their way but never pitched.
“I later received a message stating that the case was closed due to no leads.”
WATCH:
Mosiane said crime was an issue in Erasmuskloof and measures to curb it were effected without much success.
“We stay in a house built like a prison with electric fence and CCTV equipment, burglar doors.
“We have spoken to our neighbours and other community members… it seems these solar lights and gas cylinders are a hot commodity for thieves in our area,” he said.
“The community needs to be aware that there are criminals going around and I believe they reside in the nearby squatter camp.”
Ward 83 Cllr Francois Bekker said based on community reports, crime had risen in the area.
“Residents are frustrated over crime and air pollution from the informal settlement.
“Crime has increased dramatically in the area and it can be linked to Wolwespruit,” said Bekker, adding that he was concerned because he lived with his children and grandchildren.
Brooklyn police spokesperson Sergeant Dawid Baloyi said the complainant was contacted this week.
“The matter is being attended to.”
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