VACANT-PROPERTY owners are encouraged to keep an eye on their properties as they have the potential of harbouring criminal activities. This comes after the Westville SAPS warned that such structures have become a target. “Abandoned houses will always be targeted for copper pipes and scrap metal. Criminals also use these abandoned houses as somewhere to hide,” said Westville SAPS communications officer Captain Elizabeth Squires.

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Attesting to this, Liesel Kruger of Keep Westville Beautiful said they have witnessed this in one of their clean-ups on Rodger Sishi Road. “Vagrants have taken residence in an abandoned building and are attacking women waiting for the buses at the bus stop. Abandoned properties are a huge concern to us – we encourage owners to please not let properties stand empty as they wait for permits to build new buildings. If it’s not possible to occupy the building, please regularly clean up around the property and get your security company to regularly check the premises. These buildings quickly become hangouts for drug addicts, and we have seen how crime increases around these abandoned properties,” she said.

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Charnel Hattingh, head of Marketing and Communications at a security company, said criminal activities, such as petty theft, burglary, vandalism and break-ins, often increase in neighbourhoods with vacant properties. “Residents are urged to report vacant properties to their local Neighbourhood Watch or Community Policing Forum in order for it to be escalated. NHWs and CPF committees will then be able to map and report suspicious activity as well as illegal occupation of these properties to the SAPS,” adds Hattingh.

He further encouraged owners to alert their armed response companies whether it is for a few days, weeks or even months. “By letting us know that no one will be home, we can ask our armed response officers to keep a lookout for any suspicious activity in and around your property. It also means that we will know exactly who to contact in any emergency, especially if we need to gain access to your home as quickly as possible,” he said.

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