Three new police vehicles deployed as Umbilo SAPS ramps up crime prevention
Umbilo SAPS has deployed three dedicated police vehicles to Sector 3 following a spike in robberies and other serious crimes.
ON Saturday, Umbilo SAPS management met with the community, businesses, private security companies, and other stakeholders to discuss crime in Umbilo, Carrington Heights, and Glenmore.
Speaking at the imbizo, station commander Colonel Robert Ximba said that due to a recent spike in these areas, including multiple home robberies, three vehicles have now been dedicated to the Sector 3 precinct (Umbilo, Carrington Heights, and Glenmore) in an effort to drive down criminality.
“It is through forums like imbizo that we not only give feedback but get a sense of what we might have under our radar and then act in conjunction with community support,” said Ximba.
It emerged during the imbizo that areas of concern include ongoing alleged criminal activities in Kenneth Gardens housing complex as well as Flamingo Court.
“Through working with the communities, we have brought order to Dalton Hostel, and we intend to use similar strategies to decrease crime in other areas,” Ximba added. He said other success stories included the arrest of police officers from outside the precinct who were allegedly involved in crime, including drunken driving and a false claim of robbery involving a firearm.
Vaughn Reid, acting chairperson of Sector 3 CPF shared, “By getting involved in neighbourhood watches, residents become part of the solution, it is through collaboration with neighbourhood watches such as the Black Ants and UCCA that a difference is made.”
Sicelo Sibiya, leader of Black Ants, reiterated that they wanted to work with like-minded partners to curb criminality.
Also read: Community, drug users seek common ground in Umbilo
To enhance services, the Department of Community Safety and Liaison has assigned two social workers to the station, and Lifeline has provided an additional social worker.
Umbilo SAPS will now provide document certification services at various malls throughout the week, from 08:00 to 02:30. Certification can be done at Queensmead Mall (Monday), Berea Centre (Tuesday), Davenport (Wednesday), King Edward Hospital (Thursday), and Glenwood Village Mall (Friday).
Umbilo CPF Sector 3 will host its AGM on February 14 at Umbilo Congregational Church at 09:00.
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