The long grass along the park in Radium street in Pretoria West has become a hiding spot for criminals.
This had led to an increase in burglaries in Proclamation Hill, especially into houses opposite the park, residents said this week.
Pretoria West CPF member Eric Cordier said the park had become a haven for criminals.
“A lot of terrible things happen there and it’s no longer a safe place for kids to play. Many robberies occur there and most of the times women are victims.”
Cordier said residents feared for their safety and were demanding action.
Nadia Henrico of Radium Street said criminals broke into houses at least two times a week.
“Recently we had many house-breakings in our area because of the long grass in the park opposite our houses. The criminals spent days hiding in the park and the long grass make it harder for us to see them.”
Henrico said the criminals targeted the houses early in the morning as they were able to watch people’s movements.
“My home was robbed three times this year and police never made any single arrest. We have reported these crimes on numerous times but it looks like nothing is being done.”
People were no longer feeling safe in their homes.
“We as a community have laid a complaint to the police but the feedback we got was that they couldn’t do anything about it. They told us that it was up to the sub-contractors to cut the grass.”
Henrico said her house was broken into about four times in one month.
“In one incident, I was with my mother and kids when they tried to break the door in the early hours of the morning.”
The Pretoria West police could not be reached for comment.
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