White River SAPS sector managers and representatives of the various subforums discussed the worrying increase in burglaries and theft during the monthly community-policing forum (CPF) meeting on May 12.
Crime has been escalating in Yaverland and Plaston and the police are working on a strategy to combat it. According to the sector manager, housebreakings were a big problem. They also planned to put an extra member on the housebreaking squad to see if increased presence had any effect. The sector manager said that support and patrols from the community were lacking, but that they were working with security companies to increase their presence.
During feedback on cases where suspects had been apprehended, police confirmed that the suspects in the murder cases of Clive Bowers and Rensia de Wet were still in custody and the court hearings were ongoing.
Spioenkop’s CPF representative brought up the issue of cyber crimes and said that she had been informed of several cases in the past few weeks. She asked the meeting for advice on how these could be reported. According to the CPF chairman and police, these cases fell under commercial crime. Victims were urged to go to the police station and open cases of theft and fraud. It would then be forwarded to the commercial-crime division in Mbombela to be investigated.
In White River Ext 1 and 5, the problem of an empty house becoming a base for criminals was highlighted.
A government house that had been vacant for more than four months had become overgrown and criminals were using it as a hideout when targeting surrounding properties. Residents were urged to let their security company or the CPF know about vacant properties so they could be monitored.
According to the Msholozi representative, three crimes are prevalent in their sector – domestic violence, illegal sale of stands and common assault.
The CPF chairman urged the residents to be the eyes and ears of the police, as many stolen goods and produce ended up in Msholozi.
White River SAPS’ communications division also gave feedback on their regular awareness programmes. They were currently visiting schools around the area and addressing students on misconduct like alcoholism and drug abuse. The representative also mentioned that they were working on addressing the many cases of domestic violence in Msholozi.
The next CPF meeting will be held at the conference room of the White River Police Station on June 9.
Enquiries: whiterivercpf@gmail.com
