Diewe at Plett Wedge

tauriq
May 2008
Righto guys, heres the scoop. After our 9 day roadtrip quest, our final destination was Plett to surf those rocking wedges. We were ready to leave back to CT when we went out to get our final surf for the trip. This was about 9am Sunday morning. We parked our microbus loaded with all our goods in the parking lot at Hobie Beach. 7 of us, 4 guys 3 girls. all 4 guys in the water with girls on the cams and doing frequent trips to the van to get items and food etc. Girls must of done 3 to 4 trips to the van and all of them witenssing these 3 guys hanging around the parking bay. Not even 5 minutes after one of the girls last trip to the van, we hear that a white van has been broken into and of course it was ours. The girls had been doing frequent trips to the van to avoid such an incident in the 1st place. Waves were cooking so we were kept occupied. Once we got the signal that our van had been busted, we all got out the water and ran towards the parking bay. Bastards broke the passenger window. We noticed about 6 of our bags missing. I shouted to the boys to check the bushes because it was quite a bit to carry, so either they wouldnt get far with the bags or they dumped them in the bushes. We found a stash of bags in the bushes, all ripped open. They were searching for the cash and valuables and leaving the bags for later once everything has calmed down. One of the girls saw the guys hiding behind a deserted structure in the bushes and called out ot us, but then they starting running thru the bushes. Eventually we came and started chasing up a path. We were finding more bags along the path while trying to chase them in our wetties. They ditched all the bags.They got away with about 2 grand cash, cell phones, ray bans and some other shite we might not have discovered was missing yet. The bastards were goin thru our bags in the bushes and were droping bags along the bushes as we chased them. We managed to get all our bags bags but they had cleaned out our wallets and also our communial road trip cash. Luckilly it was the end of the trip and most of the cash was used up besides our petrol money to get home from Plett.

So im posting this as a warning to others about what happened and to make them aware that theres a syndicate goin on around there. The fingerprint dude told us that there were 11 break-ins the day before and we were the 3rd 1 for the day and it was only the morning. They timed us perfectly. So be careful. We were unlucky as we had just checked out of our backpackers and made a stop by the beach for our final surf. They hit the jackpot as the van was loaded. Eish, what a way to end an awesome trip. The guys was a bit mif on the way home.

Hey, the surf was great there so that was ok

Take care guys and keep an eye on your vehicle and look out for sneaky guys in the parking lot. Oh another thing, there was a car guard and security guy in the area. They did shite.

Safe
T

Bodyboarding 962 views

9 Replies

Elementree
May 2008
Are you sure that you guys turned off the bright, flashing neon "PLEASE ROB US! ", light on the side of your van?

Lol...jokes!

It is lank swak that things like this are happening across South Africa - My best advice - DON'T MAKE YOURSELVES AN EASY TARGET!

Now i can't remember whether it was last years Wedge Classic or SA Champs, but i was sitting in the judging tower and noticed some young kids (probably street kids or disadvantged kids from nearby Plett), eyeing up the belongings of some kids who were more interested in watching the surf than their gear.

We made Rossi aware of the danger and he called over to the kids to watch their gear. They didn't listen and the "street kids" made off with their bags.

Hobie Beach, much like any other tourist beach is a crime "hot-spot" and with the surrounding bushes being a great hiding place it makes stealing in the area relatively easy.

Lank bleak that the car guard didn't do anything...maybe he is in on it?...they steal R2000, give him R200 - he's stoked.

Not much law enforcement can do about the breakins other than increase beach patrols or have a small outpost in the area...manned by a couple of cops who walk regular "beats" up and down the beach...shewing away any suspicous characters...but do the SAPS have the budget for this when far more serious crimes are being committed?

The only thing we as boogers can do, and i know that your case is an exception, is try and ensure that we take very little of value to the beach with us.

If there's nothing to steal, what is the point of breaking in?...

Then again...Craig's breakin goes against logic...
shamierc
May 2008
ahoi

yeah, i was one of the crew members on the transkei road trip - yep, the ending was pretty much babilon with our van being broken in and stuff but damn we had it good at the wedge a- not masiv but nice glassy bouldy wedgey barels as well as jbay shorey's - all good - check out pics...watch the space

peace
shamier
Rashieq
May 2008
Next time vang the car gaurd time him behind ur car and drag him around the parking lot...punks!!!

im sure they have a finger in the pie when it cums to car breakins. Swak thats u couldn't catch the punks...im sure they wldv'e have been in some seroius pain ...

Glad u guys are back home safe, can't wait to see the pixs and video.!!!!
Spy Dude
May 2008
mmmmm... swak ous,
lyle
May 2008
yo man. this sux!! spoils your whole holiday! as for car gaurds- they in it for sure!!! my dad and i walk into a store, came out less than 5min and our 2.4 toyota bakkie was gone. we asked the car gaurd that was standing right there where it was and he answered;'' you sure you parked here?'' OMF we wanted to kill him!!!!!!!

as for the coppers beach petrol idea, its a good one. i understand they dont or wont have funds for such a thing, but our beaches are tourist attractions so surely our government would see these places as a source of revenue and make them safer??? if tourists are robbed 1 they dont come back = money lost 2 they tell friends and family = alot more money lost. they dont need to patrol every beach, thats impossible. just the more popular or more problematic, or change every 2nd day or something?? but our beaches should be looked after to some degree

sweetness
Hudaa
May 2008
Hey guys, I totally agree. Hello!!! If there were 11 breakins there the day before then they should be patrolling!! I was there that day and when we went to the police station afterwards, the office was overcrowded with policeman who looked like they were on a permanent lunch break!

Anywooo, the car guard was slapped around a few times but got nothing much out of him.

We back safe and sound which is all that really counts! At least all the boards are safe and we can all enjoy the big swell coming in later!!
Suzie G
May 2008
I am just glad the irreplaceables were not lost such as the photage on our cameras...that would've been tragic
We were really fortunate that people took time out to help us. The guy who came out to tell us our van was broken into, the guy and the lady who called the cops...the other guy who helped us search the bushes...and the +-3 cop vehicles who responded to the calls
thanx to everyone who came with...Im sorry for everyones loses at the end but I am still really glad you all came... It would not have been nearly as enjoyable without you guys there...thanx
Ghalas
Rashieq
May 2008
Beat the car guide next time, just for kicks and too take out ur frustration....punks

Anyway , echoing Suzie at least the photoage is there...When's preview night????
thebookingoffice
May 2008
Anyone going to this year's wedge classic in plett? promise no theft!!!

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