Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
Homeowners beware! There is a new breed of thieves who steal the motors of remote-controlled gates and then sell the equipment on the black market.
Residents of Newcastle in KwaZuluNatal have become victims of these thugs, who target houses that are fitted with remote-controlled gates.
Police have recently been inundated with calls from angry homeowners complaining about the thefts.
Themba Khazi, a homeowner, said he had to replace the electric motor in his gate several times at a cost of R11000.
"I have replaced the motors five times now and it is digging into my pocket.
"They are now trading the stolen motors on the black market. They steal from you only to sell to your neighbour."
Police spokesman Shooz Magudulela said the crime was on the increase in the area.
"This type of crime has been going on for some time. But we had made four arrests in December and several gate motors were recovered. The suspects are out on bail," said Magudulela.
He said the biggest problem was that electric motors had no serial numbers and all looked the same.
He urged people to engrave serial numbers on their electric motors.
Thieves now target gates electric motors
Mhlaba Memela
Mhlaba Memela
Homeowners beware! There is a new breed of thieves who steal the motors of remote-controlled gates and then sell the equipment on the black market.
Residents of Newcastle in KwaZuluNatal have become victims of these thugs, who target houses that are fitted with remote-controlled gates.
Police have recently been inundated with calls from angry homeowners complaining about the thefts.
Themba Khazi, a homeowner, said he had to replace the electric motor in his gate several times at a cost of R11000.
"I have replaced the motors five times now and it is digging into my pocket.
"They are now trading the stolen motors on the black market. They steal from you only to sell to your neighbour."
Police spokesman Shooz Magudulela said the crime was on the increase in the area.
"This type of crime has been going on for some time. But we had made four arrests in December and several gate motors were recovered. The suspects are out on bail," said Magudulela.
He said the biggest problem was that electric motors had no serial numbers and all looked the same.
He urged people to engrave serial numbers on their electric motors.