JMPD raids Langermann koppies

The officers found various items, believed to be stolen, during the raid.

Clr Victor Penning, who lives in Kensington, and a number of other residents complained about the state of the koppies, the crime and the lack of action taken by authorities on numerous occasions.

“On November 3, four JMPD officers and I raided the illegal dwellings of numerous vagrants living on the koppies. The environmental damage to the once pristine koppies is enormous. The squatters dumped huge amounts of rubbish of all types all over the hill. Fires started by the squatters has damaged vegetation. The burning of stolen plastic crates has left a layer of waste carbon material coating several rocks in the area. This could take decades to erode naturally. One group of squatters had set up a small khaki and grey tent over the branches of some bushes halfway up the hill between Magnet and Jupiter streets,” said Clr Penning.

Sergeant Desmond De Mackett, from the JMPD, said they also found a cave being used as a dwelling by vagrants.

“We destroyed the shacks and tents and burnt some of their belongings because it was posing a health risk,” said Sgt De Mackett.

Other items found included tools, watches, electrical items, clothing, cooking utensils, buckets, adult magazines and the remnants of what appeared to be stolen radios, computers and irons.

These items were confiscated.

“Several residents living around the Langermann koppies have had their homes and gardens regularly plundered of metal items. It is suspected the vagrants on the koppies are responsible for most of this. Illegal and corrupt scrap for cash dealers across the area are the receivers of these stolen items and material,” said Clr Penning.

He said there were no vagrants present at the time of the raid.

Sgt De Mackett said most of the vagrants are active in the koppies from 5pm to 6am.

“We need the right equipment to go into the koppies at night. We will get this equipment and have operations in the koppies at night,” he said. He said the JMPD will continue to patrol the area.“We need the right equipment to go into the koppies at night. We will get this equipment and have operations in the koppies at night,” he said. He said the JMPD will continue to patrol the area.