Residents warned as thieves target unoccupied property in the city
Provincial Community Policing Forum chairperson Frans Kgasago warned residents after his property was broken into on two consecutive days.
POLOKWANE – Frans Kgasago, the chairperson of the provincial Community Policing Forum (CPF), has warned residents to continuously show their presence at any unoccupied property they own, following an incident in which his property was broken into on two consecutive days.
The office, which is based in Ivy Park, was stripped of household items to an estimated value of R250 000. Kgasago says the office has been vacant for some time.
He received a phone call on February 3 from a concerned resident in the area who noticed suspicious activity on the premises. “The person was passing and noticed that my furniture, electronics and appliances were loaded into a car parked outside the yard. I immediately called the police and rushed to the scene. The person also managed to take a photo of the suspects to help with the identification process.”
By the time he and the police arrived at the scene the culprits were gone and he closed up and opened a case at Westenburg police, Kgasago said. The next day, he received yet another phone call, this time from a passer-by who noticed that the culprits from the day before were back at the premises.
“By the time I arrived at the office, I recognised one of the culprits. He is known for running into problems with law enforcers regularly. An altercation ensued because I confronted them and asked what they were doing on my property. One of the men maintained that the property was owned by their older brother and that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. By the time the police arrived they had managed to flee the scene. They have not been arrested yet.”
Kgasago says another case was opened which includes malicious damage to property after the men damaged the municipal box and took all the electrical cables, removed two gate motors, stole refrigerators and even toilets. They had also removed ceiling boards and fitted basins, along with other fixtures.
“Residents should alert their neighbours if they have houses unattended and join the local CPF in an effort to help curb crime,” he advised.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that a case of housebreaking and theft is being investigated by the police but no arrests have been made. He says there are no known suspects on this case but police investigations continue.
