Menlo Park residents fed up with crime
Over 400 residents signed a petition which was handed over to the Tshwane police district commissioner, Brooklyn police commander as well as the MMC for community safety.
Residents of Menlo Park are tired of the escalating crime in the area and have called for action from police and metro police.
A group of residents signed a petition labelling concerns over driveway robberies at a shopping centre and post office on 13th Street.
The petition signed by more than 400 residents was handed over to the Tshwane police district commissioner, Brooklyn police station commander as well as the MMC for community safety’s office.
Ward councillor Siobhan Muller said there were multiple incidents where residents were followed after using the ATM, attacked and robbed.
“In some incidents, the robbers would follow the residents while they are shopping in the store to see if they are wearing any expensive jewellery,” she said.
“They act as if they are shopping, while they are actually looking at what rings or watch you might be wearing. And then they let their contact on the outside know, they follow you to your house and they rob you in your driveway.”
Muller said there was also drug dealing in the area.
She said there were also informal car guards who harassed motorists demanding money.
“There are some who are employed by the stores as car guards, but some are not,” she said.
“I had personal experience getting into the car, where they pulled the door asking where their money was.”
The petition called for regular patrolling by police as well as the removal of informal traders who were operating on sidewalks.
Muller said they have seen some action from the police such as raids, but more needed to be done to curb the crime.
MMC for community safety Karen Meyer said the petition was handed over to the speaker’s office and would still need to be assessed by the chief of police.
She said the feedback on what role TMPD would play in addressing the concerns of the residents, would take at least a month due to the processes it will have to undergo.
Tshwane district police commissioner Major-General Hilda Mohajane said there were various operations that had been held in the area.
She said these addressed crimes such as drug offences, drinking in public, illegal gambling and other serious crimes around the post office.
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“Numerous arrests were made during these operations for various crimes and the community was assured that disruptive operations such as these will continue.”
Mohajane sad a follow-up meeting date was set to discuss further collective solutions.
She invited community members to be involved with their local sector crime forums and to join as “Community in Blue patrollers”.
“The objective of the Community in Blue concept is to promote reporting of criminal activities and any suspicious behaviour in the communities. It is also to increase visibility in order to deter criminal activities and active community participation in crime prevention initiatives,” she said.
All interested persons residing in the Brooklyn policing precinct who want to register for the upcoming training of the Community in Blue patrollers can send their details to the Brooklyn CPF chairperson, Marlene Kruger at marlene@edukinetics.co.za.
Residents in other areas in Tshwane can contact their local CPFs for more information on how to register.
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