Crime trends across the east of Pretoria are increasingly moving between suburbs and targeting areas where security is weaker, according to the Garsfontein CPF.

The CPF said these trends are prompting a stronger collaboration between residents, security companies and law enforcement agencies to improve community safety.

Aris Ruyter, chairperson of the Garsfontein CPF and founding director of the Alpha Security Forum, said the overall crime picture within the precinct from the beginning of 2026 to the end of April has been mixed, although several concerning patterns have emerged.

Ruyter said persistent pressure remains around theft out of motor vehicles, opportunistic theft, suspicious individuals moving between suburbs, and recurring daytime incidents involving scams and intimidation tactics.

“There has also been an increase in community reports relating to suspicious vehicles, attempted access incidents, and roaming groups profiling properties and residents,” he said.

According to Ruyter, one of the biggest concerns is that criminal activity is no longer isolated to specific hotspots, with suspects now moving rapidly between suburbs and targeting areas perceived to have weaker co-ordination or security visibility.

“Crime has become far more mobile and opportunistic,” he said.

“Suspects are moving quickly between areas and often target softer or less co-ordinated environments.”

He added that many crimes are not reported to authorities, making community intelligence and operational feedback increasingly important in identifying crime patterns and monitoring hotspot movements.

“In response, the CPF has focused heavily this year on improving visibility, co-ordination and communication between residents, SAPS, TMPD, private security companies and community safety structures.”

Ruyter said efforts have included strengthening sector-based patrols, joint operations, information-sharing systems and communication structures across the precinct.

“There has also been a strong emphasis on rebuilding trust and participation between the community and official structures, while ensuring that policing concerns are properly escalated through the correct channels,” he said.

The Alpha Security Forum, which operates across several Pretoria east communities, has meanwhile focused on operational co-ordination and rapid information sharing between various role players.

According to Ruyter, the forum has expanded significantly as a co-ordination platform linking residents, private security firms, CPF structures, SAPS, TMPD and other community forums through structured communication systems and verified information-sharing networks.

“One of the major trends seen this year has been the increasing value of real-time intelligence and rapid information sharing,” he said.

“Through the Alpha network, incidents, suspect movements, suspicious vehicles and developing crime trends are often identified much faster than before, allowing for quicker escalation and co-ordinated responses,” he added.

Ruyter pointed to a recent rise in complaints involving so-called ‘compost scammers’ operating across Pretoria east suburbs as an example of how co-ordinated community communication has helped identify trends more quickly.

He said the suspects allegedly move between neighbourhoods using deceptive tactics and intimidation, highlighting the need for greater public awareness and formal reporting of suspicious incidents.

The forum has also assisted with cross-forum operations, vehicle recoveries, responder co-ordination and co-operation between multiple organisations operating within the east of Pretoria and surrounding areas.

Looking ahead, both the CPF and Alpha Security Forum plan to focus more strongly on integrated and intelligence-led safety initiatives rather than isolated crime-fighting efforts.

“Plans include expanding camera integration and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, improving co-operation between different forums across Pretoria east, strengthening visible policing initiatives and improving patrol structures,” he said.

Ruyter said there is also a growing recognition that community safety extends beyond simply responding to crimes.

“Community resilience, upliftment and support structures are becoming increasingly important,” he said.

He said this broader approach has partly informed the recent launch of the Alpha Care Unit initiative, aimed at providing practical community support during times of crisis or hardship.

Ruyter believes co-operation between communities and safety structures is steadily improving.

“The more communities work together and share verified information responsibly, the harder it becomes for criminal activity to move unnoticed between areas,” he said.

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