RESIDENTS in a block of flats in Problem Mkhize Road are concerned with what they say is an increase in crime in the area.
One resident said there seemed to be an increase in car theft, including several incidents on the premises, and a spate of hijackings nearby.
“On 9 January my sister was staying with me, and in the early morning she opened the window and saw a man with a screw driver trying to open the gate to our parking area. He pushed and kicked it, and she thought this was very strange. If he stayed in the building, he would have had a remote.
“She then saw another car drive up. The man slipped in through the gate and got into a Golf on our property. We woke my son up to see if he could do something, but the gate was open and the man had reversed and driven off. One of the men in the other car took out a gun, we were so nervous!” she said.
The men left the gate open, and the woman's son and other residents had to lift it onto the rails again.
The resident said she lived in a false sense of security, as the complex has CCTV, electric fencing and an electric gate.
“It's a bit too much. We read about crime in the paper, but now it's happening to us. We have to be extra vigilant now, we are scared,” she said.
Another resident at the block said on 7 January, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, her brother had arrived to visit her and had parked his car inside the gate at the complex. When she walked to the shop later she realised his car was gone.
“There was no forced entry to the property, and I thought it was an inside job, but now after the incident on 9 January I realise how they are getting the gate open. It also seems like criminals are cloning gate remotes. I am shocked that this happened in broad daylight and no one saw anything. My brother lost his car along with his daughter's iPad, which had all her varsity info on it,” she said.
There was also another attempted theft of a car at the block at the end of December, and the victim's wife spoke to Berea Mail.
“It's ridiculous what is going on, crime is getting out of hand. In flats, you think you are safe. I have lived here for 11 years and it's horrible,” she said.
The residents say they are living in constant fear.
“I did report this to the body corporate because we need the security beefed up. I have been here for 14 years, but the criminals have had a wonderful Christmas this year. It is getting crazy!” said a resident.
She said she felt security needed to be increased, and thought the solution would be to get security patrols along the entire block of Problem Mkhize Road up to Currie Road and other surrounding roads.
“We need roadside security, patrols and armed response. I hate to think we have to live like this, but what is the solution?” she said.
