The recent spate of crimes include taps being stolen, gas pipes and house numbers disappearing from properties.
A house in North Avenue was burgled three times in one day.
“We don’t even sleep at the house anymore, my wife is afraid in case the burglars come back,” said a resident who wished to remain anonymous.
Mr Keith Peacock who is the chairperson of the Yeoville and Observatory Community Police Forum, was there when the EXPRESS was on the scene of one the burglaries, though Bez Valley does not fall under him.
“I don’t believe the police have taken the crime in this area seriously,” he said.
He spoke about his community having to hire private security guards.
“Some of the crime is a daytime activity and pro-active policing is needed,” said Mr Peacock.
He said more engagement is needed with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to increase patrols in the area.
He highlighted the 10 Plus campaign, where each area has 10 metro police officers patrolling at any given time.
“They must check people walking around with metals, it must be a joint effort,” he continued.
When approached for comment, the Jeppe SAPS said they were not aware of any scrap metal gangs operating in the area.
“Nothing has been reported to us but the patrol vans do stop and search people who are pushing trolleys to the scrap metal businesses,” said Warrant Officer Munyai of the Jeppe SAPS.
He said officers have a register they use during the inspection of scrap metal businesses.
He said suspects are being arrested and their fingerprints taken at the scene of the crimes and sometimes the SAPS manages to the link them to other crimes. He said they conduct raids twice a week and that at present they do not have the crime statistics for the area.
He said the community must be aware of the hotspots which the Jeppe SAPS claim they have warned the community about.
When asked if there was an increase in crime in the area, he said crime was being reported from all policing sectors including Kitchener Avenue and all areas are being treated alike. “We deploy sector vans to do patrols and monitor all areas.”
The Jeppe SAPS said the crimes that they are experiencing at the moment are common assault and common assault GBH (grievous bodily harm), hijacking, house robberies and theft out of motor vehicles. The Jeppe SAPS is recruiting street patrollers.
