Taking advantage of Eskom’s mismanagement, otherwise known as loadshedding, thieves continue to use the timed darkness to their benefit. This follows yet another loadshedding burglary in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. However, this time in Barry Hertzog Park, where a Nissan bakkie and household goods were stolen.
Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team member Imran Ghafoor explained that the burglary took place on 9 January 2023. Whereby, the suspects managed to steal the homeowner’s Nissan bakkie, using it to further steal household appliances loaded onto the bakkie. Fortunately, he said that no one was home at the time.
While the perpetrators escaped the scene, Ghafoor explained that information was supplied, which led law enforcement to the safe house where the stolen vehicle and household goods were being kept.
An operation was implemented, where the house in Section 5, Madadeni, was monitored, before the SAPS and the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team moved in.
As a result, the suspects’ were not found but, the stolen items were recovered.
Looking at the situation as a whole, Ghafoor said, “Housebreakings are quite problematic, especially during loadshedding.”
While residential burglaries are problematic across Newcastle, especially with the culprits using power outages to their advantage, Ghafoor pointed out that it was especially an issue within Barry Hertzog Park. This, according to Ghafoor is due to the number of students from the two colleges living in the area.
“They (the criminals) know the students always have laptops, cellphones and so forth, and that is where they target. But there are also a lot of residents living there and you don’t know which house is which, so it is a problem,” said Ghafoor.
While loadshedding is set to continue for the foreseeable future, Ghafoor assured that aw enforcement remained determined to crack down on all criminal activity. However, he encouraged Newcastillians to report all suspicious activity and criminal acts to the necessary officials.
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