As police deal with a spike in house burglaries in Secunda, station commander Colonel Vena Sigo has issued a stern warning against filing false police reports and committing perjury.

The warning follows an alleged false case opened on October 6 by Andries Jacobus Smit (44). He reported that burglars had broken into his residence in a Silkaatzkop complex between October 4 and 5.

According to police, Smit claimed thieves stole a 98-inch Hisense smart TV and an LG home theatre system, valued at R85 000.

However, investigators discovered that he had allegedly pawned the items at a local pawnshop on October 2 for about R21 500.

“Through a security company’s CCTV footage, we found the complainant loading the stolen items onto a bakkie,” said Sigo.

Smit allegedly also submitted an insurance claim to OUTsurance related to the reported burglary.

Police arrested him at home on October 12, and he appeared in the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on October 14 on a charge of making a false police report. He was released on R1 000 bail and is due back in court on November 16.

Sigo emphasised that false reports place an additional burden on already limited police resources, diverting attention from genuine criminal cases.

“We are going to get you. Perjury is a serious criminal offence,” warned Sigo.

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