Verulam Residents Alarmed by Rising Plant Theft Incidents
Officers from Reaction Unit SA at the scene where an attempt to steal a plant was made by suspect in verulam
Image: RUSA
Residents in the Verulam suburb of Brindhave have expressed concerns about the growing number of incidents of a plant thief persistently targeting homes in the area.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa responded to one such distress call on Tuesday morning after a homeowner on Glenhaven Drive reported a theft in progress.
Upon arrival, security officers were informed that an unknown male suspect had been seen infiltrating the garden, making attempts to steal plants.
However, the suspected thief fled the scene empty-handed, moments before the reaction team arrived. The incident marked the second attempted theft at this residence in a week, as last Tuesday saw the loss of two valuable conifer plants—an act captured on CCTV footage, which is now in the possession od authorities.
Eyewitness accounts suggested that the same individual might have returned to the scene of the crime, which has triggered fears within the community.
Residents are now left wondering about the safety of their properties as the suspect was believed to be a drug user, and that he was linked to a string of burglaries that have increasingly plagued the Brindhaven area.
While the theft of plants might seem innocuous to some, but for others it represented a deeper social issue intertwining theft, substance abuse, and community safety. The act not only robs residents of their property but also heightens their sense of vulnerability.
DAILY NEWS