Dude, Where’s My Badge?

The strangest theft phenomenon has swept Windhoek recently. And while it might not be the most expensive of possessions taken from Windhoek’s drivers, it surely might be the most annoying.

A car’s badge is its birthmark. Every brand of vehicle reimagines their line-up every few years and updates on tech, exterior design elements and the interior comfort are usually par for the course, however, one thing that stays the same is the badge – the core of a brand’s identity.

In the past few months, I’ve bet you’ve seen Volkswagens drive around the city sporting new gap-tooth smiles. At first there were questions: Is this a trend? Who’s stealing badges? Why? And is there even a market for it?

Well, it seems it might be so.

News24 reported about the same time last year that this crime wave picked up in South Africa.

Stealing car badges has become a fast-growing petty crime to make a quick buck.

The reality is that any driver could become a victim, as the thieves seem to be operating both during the day and at night, in parking lots and inside private yards.

South African Lentikile Aaron has come to the sad conclusion that reporting this type of crime would just be a waste of time and effort. “I was shocked to realise that this had happened to me, even though I keep my car locked inside my garage whenever I am home.”

While it might be a weird thing to steal off cars – as opposed to rims, tyres, radios, etc – Facebook has proven that there clearly is a market for car emblems. Various Buy and Sell pages feature individuals trying to sell badges, followed by numerous comments, shares and likes.

Facebook user Nambwiyu Yatate is not impressed by these actions. “These people need to be locked up. We should not buy these things from the street because we are creating a market for people to steal our things,” Yatate commented on one of the seller’s posts. While Yatate takes serious note of the issue, many other Facebook users seem to see the funny side of the story. Here are some comments on the issue.

Azeal ‘Cheeze’ Matsoarelle wrote: “VW badges are more endangered than the rhino. #StopPoaching”.

“Volkswagen drivers, is it the in thing to remove the front badge? Asking for a friend who likes to keep up with what’s trending,” Heita Peter Kavela inquired jokingly.

Leonard Witbeen came to the conclusion that the phenomenon might come down to relationships problems – if you don’t pay child support, you lose your badge.

For those of you who have been spared this annoying and unfortunate crime, pay attention to where you park and who’s around your car at all times. Don’t be a victim of the badge gang.