RESIDENTS of Flamingo Avenue in Albersville have been living in fear for several weeks due to the behaviour of a vagrant who has been terrifying homeowners and businesses.
Last Wednesday was the last straw for many residents, as the man known as ‘Yusuf’ set two vehicles on fire. Nasima Moosa awoke to the sound of her car hooter going off at 2am. “I heard the hooter go off and looked through the window and saw my car in flames,” said Mrs Moosa.
Luckily for Mrs Moosa her neighbour heard the sound and noticed the flames and ran out with a fire extinguisher. “I could have lost the entire car because of this vagrant. We are living in fear here. If we don’t hand him what he asks for, he gets very angry. He has broken into many vehicles and homes in Flamingo Avenue,” she said. She added that police had come out to investigate, but could not trace the suspect.
On Thursday night a bakkie parked near to where Mrs Mooas’s car was parked was also set alight, but the fire was contained before it engulfed the entire vehicle. Isaac Khan, a resident in Flamingo Avenue, said he saw ‘Yusuf’ near the bakkie. “When I shouted at him, he looked at me and fled behind the Casa Hall into the bushes.”
Another resident in Flamingo Avenue added that ‘Yusuf’ is scratching through refuse bags and leaves the area in a mess. “Why must we live in fear of this man? Why can’t the police arrest him? Must someone be murdered or raped before something is done?”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid said police are investigating a case of malicious damage to property. She added that no arrests have been made.
