Residents of Block KK informal settlement in Soshanguve are under siege by criminals.
Police spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said this week the residents were being plagued by an increase in house break-ins and theft from property.
He said the residents were outraged after a spate of break-ins around their area, with the thieves still at large.
“The crime and violence in the area is getting out of hand.
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“In collaboration with the Community Policing Forum, the Youth Desk and the Youth for Survival group reached out to the community of Block KK informal settlement. We had to act in a bid to raise awareness of the crimes affecting the area,” said Maluleka.
Other crimes being committed there include domestic violence, house robberies, carjacking, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm as well as public violence.
Maluleka said the awareness campaign that saw the distribution of over 2 000 pamphlets also extended to motorists at the intersections near the informal settlement and the Batho Plaza shopping complex’s intersections.
The pamphlets contained various eye-opening tips which covered proactive measures to circumvent the scourge of crime.
“These efforts forms part of some of the provincial commissioner’s priorities of reducing the high volume of crime and community mobilisation, among other things.”
One of the residents, Kaelo Maubane, said he was allegedly accosted by armed robbers who broke into his shack with a crowbar and stole property.
“It looks like we are under siege. My case is similar to that of the other neighbours. Really, it seems we are hit by robbers every second week. This is unacceptable and concerning,” said Maubane.
“I think as community members we need to work with law enforcement agencies and share any valuable information that might help to apprehend the suspects,” she said.
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“We as residents need resolutions; we need to put plans in place to protect our community.”
Maubane said there is a higher than average amount of crime in the community and that this community was seen as a soft target by criminals.
“The crime in the area is relentless; our homes are broken into. Anything left outside is stolen from the yard.
“We had a community meeting last month about the crime in the area, but nothing came of it.
“We as residents are under attack by criminals. We need a greater police presence in the area.”
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