POLOKWANE – At least 10 bicycles were stolen over a period of a week in the Bendor and Welgelegen areas recently.
This is according to Polokwane Community Policing Forum (CPF) Public Relations Officer, Johan Retters, who said the bicycles were either stolen during burglaries or while left unattended outside shops or restaurants.
To gain insight into the reason for these thefts, Review spoke to a convicted burglar on condition of anonymity, who said the purpose of these thefts is to mobilise criminals.
According to the unnamed convicted burglar, young men and even boys are tasked by crime syndicates to cycle along targeted streets to gather information that can be used to identify safe burglary targets.
“No one looks at someone riding a bicycle, while a person on foot or sitting in a park will be noticed. This is what makes this new modus operandi so successful,” he explained.
Be on the lookout say police
Polokwane Police Spokesperson, WO Lesiba Ramoshaba said this trend is being investigated but no arrests have been made so far. “I urge residents to be on the lookout for suspicious people and to report them to the CPF and police in their areas. We urge residents to lock up their bicycles, preferably somewhere they cannot be seen from the road,” Ramoshaba said.
