Concern has been raised about the number of housebreakings in the Germiston area.
Sunnyridge resident Marietta Lombard brought the issue to the GCN’s attention after her neighbour’s house, in School Avenue, was robbed on October 25.
“Earlier this year, looklocal Germiston reported on a house robbery in School Avenue and the article included a video clip showing how the thugs lifted the gate from its rail, entered the house after walking past the dogs, and ransacked the property,” Lombard said.
“In the October 25 incident, as far as I know, the criminals also lifted the gate off its rail and even broke down the wooden front door.
“The domestic worker was locked in the bathroom and my understanding is that my neighbours’ house was cleaned out.
“Imagine the poor woman’s distress.”
Lombard added that she feels vulnerable, exposed and extremely concerned.
“I regularly see our sector vehicle in the area, but I have to wonder and would like to know: is School Avenue being targeted by house robbers and, if so, why?
“We need information and guidance from our police officials on how to secure our properties.
“Knowledge is power and it is only by knowing if we are targeted that we will know what action to take to better secure our properties and the lives of our loved ones,” she said.
“I realise there is lots of red tape when it comes to road closures, however, it is time that residents of School Avenue know whether we are favoured by criminals.
“Since the latest incident, we have taken steps to better secure our property, but I believe a contributing factor is residents not looking out for each other.
“We moved from Fishers’ Hill a couple of years ago and I can honestly say I miss the concern neighbours there had for each other.
“We were always looking out for one another.
“Since moving to our new home, ww have found residents and neighbours are reluctant to get involved when there are suspicious activities or people.”
Const Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose SAPS, said: “Over the past month crimes like housebreaking and theft, house robbery and theft of motor vehicles has shown a slight increase in the Primrose area.
“Some streets have been targeted by the criminals and we have issued safety tips to the community through the GCN and put safety tip pamphlets into post boxes in Sector Two.
“We also organised a workshop to sensitise domestic workers about crimes of concern, but not many turned up.”
He added that the sector vans patrol 24 hours a day and the community must utilise them and also go through the safety tips, as these will help them.
“We also advise Mrs Lombard to join the Sector Two Community Forum,” Maome said.
“A meeting is held every second week of the month at Sunnyridge Primary School.”
With regard to the Germiston SAPS policing area, WO André de Jager told the GCN that housebreakings in the area had increased slightly.
In Sector One (Germiston CBD), President Street is largely affected by housebreakings and Railway, Plantation and High roads are high risk areas for other crimes.
Lower Boksburg Road in Sector Two (Dukathole Extensions Five and Nine and Knights) suffers most from housebreakings.
In Sector Three (Delville and Germiston South) Elsburg Road, Argyl Street and King Street seem to be the hardest hit and, in Sector Four (Lambton), Walton and Wilette streets are the hardest hit.
Black Reef Road in Sector Five (Dinwiddie, Albemarle and Castleview) suffers the most housebreakings.
De Jager added that in Sectors Four and Five housebreakings occur sporadically throughout the entire area.
He mentioned that the unfenced railway line between Delville and Lambton is a huge problem, as criminals use this to make their escape, as well as the railway line in Dinwiddie.
“CPF members have, however, contacted the relevant organisations to try and get fencing erected,” he said.
With regard to combatting housebreakings in the Germiston policing area, de Jager told the GCN that the police have two dedicated sector vehicles for each sector, 24 hours a day.
“We are trying to put in extra vehicles where needed, as well as foot patrols,” said de Jager.
He added that visibility is extremely important and this is where the CPFs play a vital role with their regular patrols in their areas.
“The patrollers from the various CPFs are aiding us tremendously by being extra eyes and ears in the community,” he said.
He urged the community to contact the sector vehicles if they see anything suspicious in their neighbourhoods.
The numbers are: Sector One: 071 675 6854/5; Sector Two: 071 675 6856/7; Sector Three: 071 675 6858/9; Sector Four: 071 675 6860/1 and Sector Five: 071 675 6862/3.
With regard to the Elsburg policing area, Const Daphney Phooko, the communications officer for the Elsburg SAPS, told the GCN that they are not experiencing an increase in housebreakings in their area.
