By Buziwe Nocuze
Angry Atlantis residents set fire to a car on Saturday that had been used by thieves who had been snatching phones in their community.
Local activist Nolufefe Mbombo said this has been happening a lot recently.
“We have been experiencing the snatching of phones. Suspects using vehicles stop and take the residents’ belongings, especially cell phones. It is difficult to carry a phone even during the day,” said Mbombo.
He said young people using Wi-Fi spots were often targeted.
“The criminals would target young people who are visiting areas with Wi-Fi; they would come and take all their phones. On the day of the incident, the residents saw the vehicle parked somewhere; maybe they were searching for their targets.”
When residents spotted the car they knew was used in robberies, they set it on fire.
One resident, who stayed anonymous, said they wanted to catch the robbers too.
“We aimed to burn them along with the car, but they ran away. I don’t know, maybe someone told them that we were coming because they were inside the vehicle.”
“We want them to know that we will get them. We are tired of living in fear because of them. Now we got the car; next time they won’t succeed.”
People now fear carrying phones even to clinics.
“When we complain about people coming from other countries, we are seen as xenophobic, but the truth is that they are causing more problems for us. Even the car was driven by foreigners,” said the resident.
Pictured above: Atlantis community members in the Western Cape set alight the vehicle belonging to criminals allegedly robbing them of their belongings.
Source: Supplied
