Brazen burglars use pepper spray

WHEN Raymond Naidoo’s Merebank premises were burgled on Saturday night, for the third time in the past year, he began to wonder about the levels of crime in his suburb.

On Saturday, four burglars casually walked passed him carrying a television set and other valuables, he said, and then used pepper spray on him.

They had helped themselves to the goods from his outbuilding, occupied by his sister, Mimie Govender, and her husband, Jay.

Naidoo, a 54-year-old businessman, lives in the main house with his wife, Vasie, 55, and 6-year-old adopted son, Onke.

Following the third break-in, he has now taken it upon himself to start a neighbourhood watch.

“Mimie and Jay were not at home. My wife was in our kitchen and she raised the alarm when she saw two men walking near the outbuilding,” he said.

Naidoo said he went outside to check.

“As I walked towards the outbuilding I saw two men coming out of a side entrance to the home. They ignored me and muttered something in Zulu. Seconds later, two other men walked out of the home carrying the television set and other valuables.”

Naidoo said he was shocked.

He followed the men, as they casually walked out of his property to their getaway vehicle, a Kia SUV.

“Just before they got into a vehicle, a suspect who saw me following them turned around and sprayed my eyes with pepper spray.”

Naidoo said he felt a burning sensation in his eyes as he heard the men drive off.

“I was completely blinded. My wife rushed to my aid. We called the police and they took over an hour to respond.”

Naidoo claimed that when the officers arrived they showed no sympathy.

“I asked them to leave without reporting the matter. The next day I contacted Wentworth SAPS and laid a complaint with a colonel.”

Naidoo said because of his experience with the police, he planned to form a neighbourhood watch.

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said the case had not been reported to the SAPS.