This were some of the views of Putfontein residents at a Crime Awareness Road Show in the area:
Mogoba resident Julia Mbatha told the police that sirens ultimately alarm the robbers and they run away before the police can find them.
The Putfontein Police, in conjunction with the Department of Community Safety, held a Crime Awareness Road Show on July 10.
The purpose of the event was to create awareness and educate the community regarding safety issues.
“How do they expect to catch the criminals if they arrive with sirens on?” asked Mbatha.
Other residents complained about drugs and urged the cops to get rid of them.
Resident Lephakela Lekolwane warned that the community will take law into their own hands if police fail to deal with drug dealers.
“We will report them, but if you fail to arrest them then we will deal with them,” he warned.
Lekolwane also told parents to discipline their children and not to protect them when they get involved in criminal activities.
“If you don’t reprimand them they will also steal from you once they are done with us,” he said.
Meshack Masinga, from the community safety department, told residents to form street and block committees to fight crime.
“Everything is in your hands; form these committees and work closely with the police to your area of crime,” he said.
Putfontein SAPS station commander Lieut Col Khumbulani Mbatha promised to address the issue of police sirens.
“At most they are used to indicate an emergency, so that other motorists can pull over, but we will looked at the issue,” he said.
The road show started in the Mogoba village and ended in Mayfield.
