The Laudium CPF has issued a warning to residents and motorists following a concerning rise in vehicle thefts and violent crimes in the area.

CPF chairperson Shaheen Wahab said the forum remains deeply concerned about recent incidents, including an armed robbery that took place in Bengal Street, Ext 3 last week, which left two people injured.

According to Wahab, the CPF has intensified its efforts to combat the growing trend by working closely with Laudium police officers, the TMPD, and private security.

“We are deeply concerned about the increase in vehicle thefts and related violent crimes. The CPF engages weekly through the Station Crime Combating Forum, where we meet with the Laudium SAPS management and TMPD representatives to discuss ongoing cases, identify crime patterns, and develop targeted responses.”

He said the CPF has stepped up hotspot monitoring and information sharing among CPF members, police, and security partners, while volunteer patrol teams conduct visible patrols during high-risk hours in collaboration with law enforcement.

To address the growing concern, Wahab explained the CPF is maintaining active collaboration with stakeholders to improve safety in the community.

“We work hand-in-hand with the Laudium police, TMPD, and the City of Tshwane’s wardens to ensure joint operations, stop-and-searches, and roadblocks are conducted regularly.”

He added that they are also engaging private security companies to help extend patrol coverage, especially during the day, when many CPF members are at work.

The forum is also pushing for better lighting and camera surveillance in known crime hotspots, as well as increased SAPS vehicle visibility in residential areas.

“Another key initiative involves strengthening the relationship between community street representatives and the CPF to ensure faster reporting and response when suspicious activity is observed,” said Wahab.

He urged residents to remain calm as the CPF and law enforcement intensify operations to curb the growing threat.

“We urge residents to remain calm yet vigilant. Crime prevention is a collective responsibility, and every alert and every report counts.”

“We encourage the community to immediately report any suspicious vehicles or persons, and to make use of our established CPF emergency numbers on WhatsApp groups or contact SAPS on 10111.”

The update follows the violent armed robbery on October 10, when six to eight armed suspects stormed a home on Bengal Street through an open field leading to Atteridgeville.

The suspects attacked the family at gunpoint, injuring the wife and daughters before stealing two Toyota GD6 bakkies.

At the time, Wahab confirmed that one of the stolen vehicles had a Cartrack device, which helped lead to its recovery.

“Through swift co-ordination between Cartrack, the Gauteng Traffic Wardens Saturation Unit, and the Laudium CPF, both vehicles were successfully recovered in Atteridgeville and are now secured at the Atteridgeville Police Station,” he said last week.

Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects remain at large.

“The CPF will continue working tirelessly alongside law enforcement to ensure that criminals do not find a foothold in our community,” he added.

Wahab also shared safety tips to help residents reduce the risk of becoming victims of vehicle-related crimes.

These include always parking in well-lit or secured areas and avoiding idling outside homes or gates, especially at night.

You should also be aware of vehicles that may be following you and drive to the nearest police station if suspicious, and consider installing anti-theft devices such as steering locks, gear locks, or tracking systems.

Reporting suspicious movement immediately to the CPF or SAPS is encouraged, as is asking your neighbours to remain vigilant and watch out for each other.

Rekord reached out to the police for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.

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