As “robbery is very rife in town”‚ Vereeniging police said members of the community “must stop displaying or using” their cellphones and laptops in public.

Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda also said: “We are still urging our community to keep their valuables out of sight when they park their motor vehicles in town and for people that are driving open bakkies not to leave any tools unattended behind their cars.”

As well as the theft out of vehicles‚ the “theft of motor vehicles and house breakings have gone up have gone up” in Vereeniging‚ said Funda.

He also listed “property that we suspect is from a house breaking” that was “dumped in the mealie land” and found on Sunday: one Samsung LCD TV‚ a Tedelex DVD player‚ a Tedelex multi-receiver‚ four bottles of whiskey‚ four bottles of Amarula‚ one bottle of Four Cousins wine‚ four bottles of perfumes‚ one packet of Bakers Biscuits and one grey suitcase.

To claim the items‚ members of the public must “come to Vereeniging SAPS with proof of serial numbers of the mentioned property and make contact with acting station commander Colonel Lebogang Ranake or call 016 450 2080”‚ Fundla said.