A crime public meeting was held on Monday evening last week at 7pm at the old Kempton Park chambers to discuss crime concerns within Ward 16.
The meeting was chaired by Ward 16 Clr Jaco Terblanche.
Kempton Park SAPS and Norkem Park SAPS provided crime statistics.
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Community members who attended the meeting were also given an opportunity to ask police representative’s questions.
“Police are always requesting partnership with the community to fight crime, yet you withhold information from us,” pointed out a community member.
“The staff numbers and SAPS vehicles are becoming less and less. The community is now protecting itself, they are doing everything that the SAPS is supposed to be doing. When and how will they get enough officers and vehicles? Come back to us and give us dates. We are not supposed to do this (patrol), the SAPS is supposed to protect us,” he added.
According to the report from Norkem Park SAPS, crimes of concern from June 2014/15 in the area are housebreaking and theft.
House break-ins are said to be taking place mostly in Edleen, Van Riebeeck Park and Birch Acres early in the morning.
Residents were warned to be vigilant on Wednesdays when the municipality collects refuse as this was an opportunity for robbers to target homes.
Business robberies have declined in the Chloorkop industrial area.
Another issue raised was crime during load shedding.
Victims were said to be targeted when the power goes off.
In Van Riebeeck Park, Birch Acres and Edleen, residents were being car jacked as they entered their yards in the evenings.
Women were especially being preyed on.
In the evenings, suspects were said to be using car signal jammers at shopping malls.
Owners of vehicles were advised to physically double check that their car doors were locked after using their remote.
Fuel stations were said to be targeted from midnight.
The modus operandi of business robberies was suspects posing as customers.
The railway station was also pointed out as an area of concern because of the high grass surrounding it.
Norkem Park SAPS station commander Col Francinah Tshabalala pointed out she has only been with the station for a month and two weeks.
“Policing has moved and is no longer a force, it is now community policing,” she said.
Tshabalala indicated that police had been deployed to Norkem Park High, Jeugland and Birchleigh High to monitor truancy, bullying and drugs.
Fifty-three young people she said had been appointed to assist with neighbourhood watches and to be trained as informers.
Scrapyards were being visited regularly to ensure that they were not dealing with stolen property.
Tshabalala said projects introduced by the station included know your neighbour, know your gardener, and know your helper as they are the first suspects after a crime is committed.
“We are working 24 hours to curb crime, and we are winning,” she said.
