90+ cameras in Sharonlea keep the suburb safe
Major crimes no longer take place in suburb, say residents association.
The suburb of Sharonlea was, just a few years ago, voted the safest suburb in Joburg.
This is thanks to a combined effort of residents to set up numerous cameras and link them with security companies so they are monitored 24/7 and suspicious vehicles and licence plates can be responded to immediately.
Today, the Greater Sharonlea Residents Forum boasts 90+ cameras in central and upper parts of the suburb. The lower section is overseen by the Sharonlea Action Group.
Included are six licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras at the area’s two main entrances and four sub-entrances, with technology that automatically tracks the number plates of vehicles and notifies the control room when one is duplicated or wanted by police in connection with a crime.
“We have two security companies that patrol the area and respond to incidents, as well as a third company that manages the control room and the cameras,” explained forum chairperson, JC Wouters.
“The companies are on our Telegram group, where messages are shared about suspicious vehicles and other things. We have very little crime here and in fact have only opportunistic crime, like someone jumps over a wall to steal something that has been left out in the yard.”
There are no break-ins or robberies, Wouters said, and people feel safe to walk in the street at just about any time of day.
Details: Greater Sharonlea Residents Forum mail@gsrf.co.za
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