Wheel stealers on a roll
Dorchester Heights residents wake up to find their cars on bricks
Thieves with a taste for biscuit wheels are on the loose in Dorchester Heights.
The recent spate of car tyres being stolen off cars in the normally safe East London suburb has left residents on high alert.
According to social media posts, thieves have been targeting the area this month.
Owners have woken up to find their vehicles sitting on bricks.
Retired teacher Nomfesana Matolengwe said her daughter’s car was hit.
“We woke up on Sunday and all wheels were gone.
“The car was parked inside the yard and the guys must have jumped over the wall because we have a gate that locks.
“Our big car was parked outside but they did not steal from it because it seems whoever is behind this is after the smaller wheels.”
She said the police have done next to nothing. “They only came here on the day we reported the matter and they never came again. We just opened the case for insurance purposes because there is nothing much the police will do now.”
Resident Heinz Schonselbt, who has lived in the area for 37years, said he woke up one morning last weekend to his two back wheels gone.
“This happened on Saturday evening and I know there are other houses in our area who find have been hit as well. They stole two wheels from us and the wheel nuts from the remaining tyres were loose.”
The vehicle was parked outside his house when the crime occurred. “We do not have space inside and the car was outside our yard, visible from the house. My parents have lived here for 37 years and we have never had any break-ins at our house.
“This is the first time this is happening.”
Anthony Traub said: “We came outside at half six in the morning as I was going to play golf with my son and all the tyres were gone. They brought their own bricks as well and what is worrying is that we are not the only victims to this.”
He said, “I have been living in this area for over 20 years and we have never had any breakins. This is the first time we have experienced such crime in our area. We reported this to the police because it was needed by my insurance.”
On Monday morning, a resident, who did not want to be named showed the Dispatch houses whose owners have been victims in recent weeks.
A few cars were seen still standing on bricks.
East London police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala denied the allegation that a tyre syndicate was at work. “No, not in East London. There is no car tyre syndicate in East London. Also no case has been reported concerning the theft of tyres.”
Cambridge police spokesperson Captain Mluleki Mbi said: “We have been experiencing this type of crime lately, mostly in the vicinity of Dorchester Heights and Vincent.
“A suspect was arrested recently in Hemingways. Others were arrested in Amalinda.
“We can advise car owners to fit lock nuts on their wheels and also try parking their vehicles in locked up garages.”