Overgrown field harbours criminals, residents say
“Criminals gain access to the neighbourhood through the overgrown property behind us and vanish into the vegetation when they have committed their crimes.”
Jacqueline Roux (35) from Callista Crescent, who survived a house robbery in January this year, lives right next to the property.
“There was another attempt on Saturday morning at 01:00 by, I believe, the same criminal, to gain access to our residence.
“He was busy removing a slab of concrete from our fence to gain entrance to our property when I called the police. We investigated when we heard banging.”
Roux said fear gripped her heart at that moment and she called the Sinoville police station’s emergency number for assistance; “to no avail as my calls went unanswered”.
“Subsequently, I called the CPF’s emergency number and they confirmed their response vehicles were underway to Saliehout Street, which is only a block away from us and could indeed assist us as well. Had it not been for the CPF’s quick response, I don’t want to think what could have happened.”
She said her security company “had been under such pressure that they only managed to respond about 40 minutes after I sent my panic signal”.
“Criminals gain access to the neighbourhood through the overgrown property behind us and vanish into the vegetation when they have committed their crimes.
“It gives them quick and easy access to Lavender Road, which runs to Wonderboom airport.”
Roux said she and her daughter fell victim to robbers at their home in January this year.
“My husband was working nightshift, and my young daughter and I were home when an armed man entered our home.
“He stuck a firearm in my face through the window, but I managed to press the panic button and lock myself and my daughter in the bathroom. He fired shots into the house and fled with some of our belongings and items. We were severely traumatised.”
Roux said alarms don’t scare criminals off and something drastic needs to be done urgently about the field “as it harbours criminals and we all live in fear”.
Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, spokesperson for Sinoville police, advised residents to “always rather call 10111 to have one’s call answered and be assisted, but also to obtain a reference number”.
“By obtaining a reference number, residents can be assured that their complaint was reported and progress can be traced.”
Van Dyk confirmed Roux’s calls went unanswered because “the station was under pressure at the time as all our vehicles were at that moment with the CPF on their way to a shooting taking place at Saliehout Street”.
“It was confirmed all available staff members were assisting to respond to an incident with minimum members left at the station. Those at the office were at that moment contacting other police units and making arrangements to get dogs on the scene.”
Van Dyk said it was reported to police that seven male suspects entered a residence in Saliehout Street, of which three were armed. Three shots were fired.
“The suspects fled on foot with mainly electronic goods. An investigation of house robbery is ongoing.”
Ward councillor Lenise Breytenbach said despite the metro, TMPD and local police not being responsible for maintaining the said overgrown property, they have in the past “as much as possible” always kept the vegetation and illegal land occupiers at bay.
“But with all the rain and mud, it had not been possible for the metro’s cutting teams to do the work.”
The Tshwane metro had yet to provide comment by the time of publication.
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