Freedom Day fumble: Botched Vito theft ends in wall crash at Durban baby home
The scene at a Durban baby home where a Mercedes Vito crashed into a boundary wall following an alleged vehicle theft attempt.
Image: Supplied
In a Freedom Day fumble in Durban, a man allegedly attempted to steal a Mercedes Vito from a baby home in broad daylight, only to crash it when reversing proved too difficult.
Older children were returning from a nap while babies were playing in the lounge at Journey of Hope Baby Home on the Bluff when they heard a “massive crash”.
“At first, we didn’t even realise it was in our driveway. My son was in his bedroom and came running to tell us the van had crashed through the wall. We raced outside and saw the vehicle resting on the smashed wall dividing our house from the neighbours,” said founder and director Caileen Flemming.
She described the incident as “completely ridiculous”.
A Mercedes Vito after it crashed into a Durban baby home wall during an alleged botched vehicle theft attempt.
Image: Supplied
“I think the suspect completely underestimated how difficult it is to reverse out of our driveway. I also think he attempted to ‘freewheel’ to avoid alerting us, not realising that the hydraulics on the van only work when the ignition is switched on. It’s just absolutely crazy,” Flemming said.
The man fled the scene, leaving behind significant damage.
The vehicle, a 2014 model, was written off after it had to be dismantled in order to be towed from the yard.
“It is just devastating because, firstly, it was fully paid for and, secondly, it was such a workhorse for the baby home. It was used to collect donations, take rubbish to the dump and, most importantly, it was big enough to safely transport all our babies together for family outings. It’s a massive blow.”
Damage to the wall following the crash.
Image: Supplied
“Journey of Hope Baby Home opened its doors in July 2023. It is an organisation run by an ordinary, middle-class family on the Bluff in Durban, providing a safe, loving environment for orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable babies and toddlers who are waiting to find their forever homes,” Flemming said.
The home, which is registered with the Department of Social Development, is able to care for six babies at a time.
“We currently have seven little ones ranging from seven months to three years old. The home relies almost entirely on donations to keep its doors open and is committed to providing these children with a strong family foundation full of love and security,” she added.
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