A veld in Akasia known by locals as a drug hotspot has again been placed in the spotlight following a recent mugging.
A young man on his way to work was allegedly robbed of his cell phone on the corner of Heinrich and Doreg streets Wednesday morning.
The Amandasig Action Group (AAG) community policing forum had previously pointed out this area as a hotspot for drug-dealing and other crimes.
Erich Landsberg, AAG operations manager, said the veld at the intersection offered a hiding place for criminals.
“During raids and drug-busts, with the help of the metro police drug unit, we would often find drugs hidden in the veld.”
Landsberg said as many as 15 to 20 people would be arrested in a single night for drug-related crimes during a sweep of the area.
On Wednesday morning, Landsberg was contacted by a concerned parent reporting that her son had been mugged at knife-point at this intersection.
“The young man was riding his bicycle to work. As he stopped at the traffic light, someone grabbed him from behind and pushed a knife against his back,” Landsberg told.
“The suspect took the boy’s cellphone and fled the scene.”
A Tshwane metro clean-up team had recently been to the veld to cut the long grass to discourage criminals from using it to hide.
“For the past few months it seemed as though less crimes were reported in this area, but now it appears to be spiking again and we must warn residents to be wary and alert when travelling past this veld.”
Also read:
Police tackle drug trafficking in Pretoria North
Deadly battle against drugs in Pretoria North
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