Lenasia crime roundup: Infrastructure tampering, house robberies & hijackings

Crime continues to plague the Lenasia area with a number of incidents reported over the past week. 

In the first incident, police handcuffed four suspects aged between 23 years and 57 years old for tampering with an essential infrastructure and possession of presumed stolen property.

It is understood a security officer alleged that he was performing patrol duties at Volta Street when he noticed that the criminals had cut a Telkom cable. 

Lenasia police spokesperson Bafana Ndimande said the copper cable was about 14 meters long and estimated to the value of R10 000,00. 

“He arrested them and seized the copper cable. He took them to Lenasia SAPS. the males were detained at Lenasia SAPS cells, and they will appear shortly at Lenasia Magistrates Court. 

At the same time police arrested a 30-year old suspect also for tampering with an essential infrastructure.

Security officers alleged that they were performing patrol duties at Volta Street, Lenasia Extension 10 when they spotted an unknown suspect who was busy digging next to the road. 

Ndimande said they approached him and he ran away.

“They gave chase and managed to apprehend him. Later it was discovered that he attempted to steal a copper cable estimated to the value of R20 000,00. They took him to Lenasia SAPS. The male was detained at Lenasia SAPS cells, and he will appear shortly at Lenasia Magistrates Court.” 

House robbery

There have been a few house robberies in Lenasia recently.

In the latest incident, a home owner and his family from Bombay Street, Lenasia Extension 11A were robbed by a group of criminals. 

It is understood the family were sleeping when three unknown criminals forced entry into the house. 

Ndimande said the suspects were armed.

“The males pointed his family with firearms and demanded money. They ransacked the house and took cash and other items to an undisclosed amount of money. They further took his motor vehicle, a Silver Volkswagen Jetta with registration number NWV636GP, and drove away with it.” 

Ndimande said police are investigating a case of house robbery and have appealed  to the community to come forward with any information that may lead to the recovery of the motor vehicle and arrest of the perpetrators.

Hijacking

Hijacking also continue to be rife in the suburb.

An Uber driver was hijacked in Lenasia after he received a request from a customer. 

Police said the man drove to Lenasia and found an a man and a woman waiting for him. 

Ndimande said the duo asked him to take them to Lenasia Extension 13 and would pay him upon arrival to their destination.

“The Indian male asked him to stop at Jewel Street, Lenasia Extension 13 and he alighted, leaving the girlfriend behind. After few minutes, the male came back with the other Indian male. They jumped into the car and asked him to  drive to the ATM.” 

“Suddenly, the male who was fetched at Jewel Street, Lenasia Extension 13 pulled out a firearm and pointed at him. He ordered him to stop the car. They demanded cash and took other items to an undisclosed amount of money. They left him behind and drove away with his motor vehicle,” Ndimande said. 

Ndimande said police are investigating a case of carjacking and have appealed to the community to come forward with any  information that may lead to the recovery of the motor vehicle and arrest of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, Lenasia police also conducted a multidisciplinary operation together JMPD, City Power and Prasa among officials. 

Officers conducted stop and searches with fines being issued by Environmental Services to the value of R20,000, one restaurant was also closed and four tons of City Power aluminium cable cut on Lenasia line valued at over R350,000 seized. 

On a positive note, Lenasia police had an outreach programme at Lehae Kaya Center where they engaged with the community, certified copies of original documents and completed affidavits for the community. 

Ndimande has urged the community to be proactive in their approach to crime and reports any suspicious activity to police.