A Heideveld hair salon has reopened a week after it was burgled and vandalised, but the owners are still trying to get the business back on its feet.
The break-in at M and R Hairdresser, on the corner of Heideveld and Ascension roads, happened late on Saturday May 27 or in the early hours of Sunday May 28, according to Raeesha Adams, one of the owners. She says she did not open a case at the police station because it was pointless.
A neighbour had called her on Sunday morning to say the salon’s gate and door were standing open.
“Our kettle, toaster, snackwich maker, brushes, towels, hairdryers, flat irons, hair dye, shampoos and conditioners were all stolen. They threw the drawers out, they broke the cups on the floor, threw our knives out by the back door, and the place stank like weed. We know who they are, the usual suspects that break in everywhere,” said Ms Adams.
Within 24 hours neighbours had told the owners where they could find most of their stolen property and a resident had returned a hairdryer he had bought from someone, not knowing it had been stolen.
“He wanted us to pay R130 for it because that is what he paid, but I told him that I will put him in jail. He wouldn’t say who he bought it from. Most of the things we found, but we had to buy new stuff.
“This is what load shedding does to our businesses because even if we had an alarm, it wouldn’t work in load shedding.
“I feel victimised. It’s people that we know. They are drug addicts that act like gangsters. They don’t care about their actions only themselves. They keep getting bailed out, there is no justice.”
She thanked those members of the community who had helped them to recover stolen property.
Co-owner Madeleine Oliver said she felt sad because the thieves were people they knew and greeted daily.
“I will always give them something if they come past. That’s what hurts the most. It’s people we know of the same community who get away with it every time. Up until today, they walk up and down as if nothing is wrong.”
Manenberg police station spokesman Captain Ian Bennett confirmed no case had been opened. He said that the area around the salon was gang-infested and police patrolled there.
“My advice to them is to secure the place, put an alarm in.”