Another temple in Tinley Manor is still without its stolen freezer, gas stove and 600 chairs The recovered pots. Picture: Rusa
THREE stolen brass cooking degs (pots), that were more than 50 years old and used to feed devotees at temple festivals in Verulam, were recovered on Monday. But another temple further north, in Tinley Manor, is still without its stolen freezer, gas stove and 600 chairs.
While the chairman of the management board at the Shri Siva Subramaniar Alayam in Umdloti Drift said they were grateful the pots were recovered, he was disheartened they were partly damaged and one was still missing.
“For some reason, they twisted the rims of the pots. I am not sure if the pots are usable ahead of Kavady in February," said Rayseelan Naidoo.
The items were found at scrap dealer, who reported the pots were sold to him.
"On Friday (November 29), the temple's caretaker and his dog were on the property but they did not hear anything. The following morning, the caretaker called and told me there was a break-in. I immediately drove to the temple and upon inspection, saw that the back gates were broken. The robbers broke the locks to the storeroom and the dining hall."
Naidoo said the brass pots as well as metal cooking utensils, dishes and electricity cables were missing.
“Judging by the side they entered, I doubt the guard next door would have seen anything. He is quite far away. Fortunately, nobody was harmed. I opened a case at Verulam SAPS."
Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), a private security company, said they were notified of the theft and posted the incident on social media. Rusa immediately set out to track down the items.
On Monday afternoon, Balram said a scrap dealer had reported to them that the pots were sold to him.
"Reaction officers proceeded to the business and were provided with video footage showing a male in a white Toyota Etios offloading three of the pots as well as a large quantity of damaged copper pipes,” said Balram.
He said the person allegedly showed the scrap yard dealer an affidavit from the police that stated the copper pipes were acquired during building renovations.
The seller was paid just over R10 600 for all the goods. that weighed around 72.5kg.
“The majority of the weight was contributed by the pots, which were around 60kg in total. One of the stolen pots is still missing,” Balram added.
The scrap dealer declined to comment.
In Tinley Manor, the Shri Siva Soobramaniar Temple was robbed of infrastructure, a freezer and a gas stove.
Diane Govender, an executive committee member at the temple, said the robbery took place on November 24.
The temple, built in 1913 to serve workers at the Huletts Sugar Mill, is classified as a heritage site.
“Just before the Sunday service, we noticed the place had been ransacked and robbed. The aluminium structure that covers the Hanuman statue as well as aluminium window frames were stolen. They left the glass on the floor. About 600 chairs were also taken as well as an 18kg gas bottle."
“We had gates, locks and laser beams but they still broke in. I have no idea how they managed to get away with all the stuff because the freezer and stove are quite big. They must have had a van to load the items."
Govender said the temple was in an isolated area so it would not have been difficult for them to get away.
"There are frequent power cuts here and it affects the alarm. We had robberies in the past but this time, they stole a big consignment."
She said they got new sponsors to install security cameras and an uninterrupted power supply.
Rachel Wilkin, the chairperson of the Verulam Committee Police Forum, said: “The general public needs to play their part by reporting stolen goods in the community. They can easily tell if someone is suddenly in possession of goods they have no business having. Instead of buying things and thinking it is cheap, people must recognise that by creating this market, it is literally costing lives.
“Scrapyard owners must also report suspected stolen goods to the police. We frequently see goods received by them being quickly disfigured, so it is difficult to establish ownership and lay charges."
The SAPS did not comment at the time of publication.