A Shallcross tuckshop owner has opened a theft case at the Chatsworth SAPS after his home and business were broken into while he was out purchasing stock.
Krishna Vyapuri said: “I left my premises to buy stock for my tuckshop. My house was locked, my tuckshop was locked, my wife wasn’t at home and my child was at school,” he said.
When he returned, Vyapuri found his tuckshop in disarray.
“They broke into my tuckshop, stole my cigarettes, and capsized the entire place. Everything was thrown around. They also stole cash, about two thousand five hundred to three thousand rand,” he said.
Vyapuri said the suspects also forced their way into his house, located below the tuckshop.
“They ransacked the entire house and stole my safe. They left everything open and fled,” he said.
Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle marked “Durban” near the scene, but it remains unclear who the suspects were or why they entered the property.
Vyapuri expressed frustration that no arrests have been made and that Chatsworth SAPS allegedly failed to respond promptly after being contacted.
He said this was not the first time his property had been targeted: “In February this year, another group broke into my house shouting about drugs. They found nothing, then brought marijuana and charged me for possession.”
A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said the community has witnessed officers behaving inappropriately during these visits.
“We have always stood by the tuckshop. Many times we were threatened to put our phones away when trying to record illegal actions. We have seen them breaking down property, threatening the owners, and coming with tools,” the resident said.
The neighbour added that residents have confronted officers about their conduct.
“Many of us have told the police their behaviour towards citizens is wrong. We watched them take items, break down property, and speak with disrespect,” they said.
The resident said these visits have happened several times this year.
“It has probably been about five times this year. Every time, we were out on the streets as a community, supporting our local tuckshop owner. What they have been doing is very wrong, and we were often threatened with having our phones taken away if we recorded them,” the neighbour said.
The community is calling for justice and accountability.
“We do not want this type of police coming into the area. There is nothing illegal done on this property as far as we know. To terrorise this family and its children is not right at all,” the resident said.
KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said: “Police in Chatsworth can confirm that a case of a business burglary is being investigated. It is alleged that on Wednesday, 22 October, police searched a property and removed various items from the tuckshop. It is further alleged that cash to the value of R2 500 was taken. Police are busy with both criminal and departmental investigations into the allegations.”
