SUNNY RIDGE – Police have noticed an increase in burglaries in Schuinshoogte, Signal Hill, Sunny Ridge and Pioneer Park.
In the hope of addressing the problem, police convened a public meeting on Tuesday evening, November 8.
Sadly, only two community members attended.
Chairperson of the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Bheki Zikalala expressed his dismay at the poor turnout.
“The CPF and police attempted to hold a similar meeting a few weeks ago at Huttenpark Primary School, and the same thing happened there.”
Despite the poor attendance, the meeting on Tuesday evening continued.
“I have been living in this area for 24 years. When I moved here in 1992, it was a quiet area until three years ago, when the burglaries began,” Mr Zikalala said.
When the crime rate initially increased, the community rallied to combat the scourge fairly successfully.
However, crime has since resurfaced earlier this year.
“I have been affected twice this year. The first time was in May, when my house was ransacked in broad daylight,” Mr Zikalala claimed.
While he was not the only victim of crime, he was disheartened by the community’s lackadaisical attitude.
“We are not certain how the suspects remove household goods out of the house without being seen, but we are encouraging the community to notify the police if they see any suspicious people or vehicles in their areas.”
Colonel Michael Nkosi reminded Newcastillians that crime could affect anyone, which was why it was important for the community to work alongside the police.
“We have realised that we cannot fight crime alone. We can only be successful if we and the community work together.”
He emphasised the importance of forming street committees to work in conjunction with the police to minimise burglaries.
“We need to formulate strategies, as prevention is better than cure.”
Residents are encouraged to make a list of the serial numbers of all their household appliances, to help police to determine ownership of stolen items.
“One of the first things the police ask when reporting an incident, is if you have serial numbers. If police find someone with suspicious goods or visit second-hand stores, they can identify the stolen items.”
Residents can contact the SAPS radio room on 034 314 6158/59 or the Community Service Centre on 034 314 6235 in case of emergencies.
The number, 10111 can only be contacted from landlines. To phone the police from a cellphone, dial 112.
