By Nombuso Ntombela
Residents of Palm Ridge (Tsietsi section) ,Katlehong are living in fear after numerous robberies that have been taking place in the area.
They complaining about the house breakings, street robbery and several theft that happens in their area.
Mthunzi Sibanyoni (38), a resident of Tsietsi section says, his car was stolen at night while working night shift.His second car was stolen at night while at work also,luckily the was someone in the house and she managed to chase the thieves.“I got very scared to hear that my mother was chasing thieves at 3am with no one on the street, I feared for her life as a car can always be replaced but not life,said Sibanyoni.
Theft and robbery in the area keeps rising all the time, they wonder if it should resort going back to their old ways of handling matter themselves or keep reporting to the police with no concrete response.Another resident Nomathemba Zondi (27), was robbed five times while walking on the street. She don’t know how to protect herself as robberies can happen even during the day. I was robbed 3 of my phones and money ,though I reported the robberies thieves were never caught,” said Zondi.
Community members say that back in the days the community patrols would haunt for thieves themselves and once they are found meeting will be called. They would tie the thief half naked with a rope, bear him up and then burn him with paraffin, car tyre and matches. They say the number of crimes decreased in surrounding areas, the police department used to have a problem with their way of handling matters and so they had to stop.Residents say that they are now thinking of going back to that route as the crime rate keeps increasing.
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