Raymond 77 year old left his home on Bellairs Drive in JHB North on foot at 11.30am on Monday August 4, 2014. When had not returned home hours later, his daughter was worried as he has Alzheimer’s. He was headed from bottom of Bellairs towards Northriding Square.
She notified the Douglasdale SAPS, and that evening they conducted a massive search for Raymond with a 50 man team made up of police officers, security company members, Neighbourhood Watch and members of the community.
Messages about Raymond’s disappearance and the clothing he was wearing were posted in all the Crime Watch What’s App groups. The team covered each and every inch of the Fourways prescient visiting all shops, centres and petrol stations asking if anyone has seen Raymond and to please notify the SAPS immediately if he was spotted.
Raymond was located in Bosmont 30km away by the CPF in that area the following day. They knew about the search from the massive coverage on facebook and twitter. They took him to Douglasdale Police Station. He was not injured but was taken to a GP to get checked out! He did not remember much about the previous 30 or so hours he had been missing.
His family were extremely grateful for the incredible support offered by the Police and community. When we work together we can do great things.
Message from the family: Ray is home, cleaned up and has cup of tea and watching soccer. We are taking him to the GP at 5pm for a check-up. He is conversing with everyone and seems to be oblivious of the stress of the last 30 hours. I cannot express my gratitude to all off you.
Thank you. You are all truly blessed souls.