Durban - A Westville couple are demanding answers from The Pavilion Shopping Centre’s management after crucial video footage was “blurred” at the “exact” time their VW Microbus apparently disappeared from the rooftop parking at the weekend.
Alex Strachan believes the video footage would have identified the thieves taking his vehicle.
The Pavilion has not yet answered questions about the incident despite repeated phone calls and an e-mail with questions from The Mercury.
Pavilion general manager Anton Dekker would only say: “Strachan is threatening us by going to the media. He can do what he wants.”
Dekker said no cars had been stolen at the mall since December and he asked why someone would want to steal an “old car”.
Tracker, which found Strachan’s vehicle, had responded to three car thefts at the Pavilion since December, said
Tracker spokesman Gareth Crooker.
Strachan said he had parked his vehicle and spotted a security car guard nearby.
When he returned and found his vehicle was gone Strachan thought he had forgotten where he had parked.
“I asked the guard where my car was but he just smiled.”
Strachan went to the guard’s office and “dragged” him to the car park.
When they went into the lift, the guard apparently drew his index finger across his throat and said: “They will kill me.”
Strachan threatened to make a citizen’s arrest, but his wife, Jennifer, was then contacted by Tracker and told the vehicle had been found in Lamontville.
Strachan said video footage shown to him “clearly” showed him parking the vehicle, but then it became blurred and, when it resumed, the vehicle had vanished.
He said the mall’s management declined to show him video footage of his car leaving the boom gates.
“The more I ranted and raved and asked how my vehicle could leave the premises with the (parking) card still in my possession, the more I received blank stares,” he said.
His car was ransacked and the wiring had been ripped out.
The Pavilion installed boom gates and introduced pay parking in November.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker said Westville police were investigating.
The Mercury