In an attempt to stop vandalism in the suburb the Ferndale Ridge Residents Group are searching for a group of teenagers who defaced property in various streets.
Head of the residents’ group, Pierre van Wyk, said the group was established to combat crime in the area and vandalism is just one of things they will not tolerate.
Footage of five boys walking along various streets in the area surfaced and Van Wyk sent a call out to all residents to identify them.
He claimed they were the vandalism culprits, although the video does not show them vandalising property. He added that this was the first time the area had to deal with so much graffiti in one incident.
The areas that were most affected include Cross Street, Oak and Kent avenues in Ferndale, Maid Marion Avenue in Robin Acres and Ferndale Ridge. Van Wyk said the defaced properties have not been restored yet.
“If the culprits don’t restore it, it most likely will fall to individual homeowners to clean up the mess themselves.”
Van Wyk is aware that children will always be naughty and he does not think the teenagers’ lives should be ruined with a criminal record for a petty crime.
However, he believes that they should be publicly shamed as teenagers tend to be self-conscious and will then hopefully learn that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by the public.
Captain Makgowanyana Maja of Randburg Police Station said a case had not been opened yet in this matter.
He also said the video footage would not be enough to open a case as it just shows children walking along the street.
“Education really starts at home, and when it comes to such instances involving minors, we really need the parents to assist us and guard their children against any form of criminal behaviour,” said Maja.
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