The citizens in this country have learnt to be particularly vigilant when it comes to our possessions. Leave anything in plain sight or out of your grasp and it will disappear faster than you can blink your eyes – and that’s no exaggeration. In fact, it can be detrimental to leave anything unattended or out of your view for even a moment, because that’s tantamount to putting up a billboard and a flashing arrow inviting thieves to fill their pockets.
It’s a sad state of affairs, but with a high unemployment rate, rampant poverty and a lax judicial system, it’s hardly surprising.
However, one thing that still astonishes me is the things that people will steal. It seems nothing is safe. Naturally, there are the usual items that thieves love, such as cellphones, jewellery, cars and cold hard cash. It’s a no-brainer why these items appeal to the majority of thieves – and, while it is still a violation, it’s come to be expected.
On the other hand, there are times when a thief steals something completely unexpected, which only makes it all the more shocking. Ironically, these items usually have little monetary value, although their disappearance is equally vexing.
Yes, I’m talking about laundry looters and plant pilferers.
I first encountered a washing thief when I was still in school. The cheeky rogue boldly managed to make his way down our driveway, through our gate and all the way around to the back of our house to grab our freshly washed laundry off the line. Unfortunately, we only spotted him as he was making off with his loot – and let me tell you I’ve never seen anyone run so fast! It’s no wonder our country produces such good athletes. Needless to say, we never saw our clothes again.
I was reminded of this experience when a colleague recently had her washing stolen. She had only just moved into a new complex when she found herself poorer for the loss of her laundry barely two weeks later – and she was not impressed!
That said, I’ve come to accept that laundry looters are a definite threat. It was the plant pilferers who really caught me off guard.
When I moved into my first home in my twenties, I was very excited and determined to make everything as nice and homely as possible. I subsequently decided to put some pretty plants in the empty flower beds at the back and front of my townhouse. This was technically communal property, but it was a fairly private area and I never imagined that anyone would steal my plants. Besides, I certainly did not want to look at two sandpits while living there.
The flower beds were small and easy enough to fill, and I was quite chuffed with my carefully selected plants and their pleasing arrangement. There was one specific plant that I liked best of all. It was a daisy bush with beautiful white and blue flowers the like of which I had never seen before. However, it seems I was not its only admirer.
Barely a week later, after coming home from work, I looked out of my window and noticed that something was missing. I panicked and ran outside only to have my fears confirmed. My favourite daisy bush was gone and all that remained was a horrible gaping hole, which the thief hadn’t even bothered to fill.
To say I was flabbergasted is an understatement! I mean, what kind of person steals someone’s plants? Honestly, I can understand why someone would steal clothes, especially if they are cold or needy, but a plant? Really! That’s just plain rude.
Of course, I went searching for my poor abducted plant, but I never found it. No doubt, it was turned into a lovely pot plant and stashed away indoors for private viewing.
Needless to say, I didn’t bother to replace it. But I did learn something that day. People will steal just about anything, for a variety of different motives, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Audrey Whyte 
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