The Brooklyn police station has topped the list as South Africa’s number one hotspot for motor vehicle and motorcycle theft.

While many stations in the east of Pretoria have seen a drop in residential robberies and vehicle thefts, Brooklyn remains the leading station in both Gauteng and the country.

This is reported in the latest batch of crime statistics published by the SAPS.

The recently released stats reflect on crimes that occurred during the first and second quarters of the current financial year (April – June and July – September).

Brooklyn

The station serves 28 suburbs, including Brooklyn, Hatfield, Lynnwood North, Alphen Park, Menlyn, Hazelwood, Menlo Park, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Waterkloof and Newlands.

The precinct comprises several student residences, shopping centres, sports facilities, university institutions, restaurants and bars.

The station has ranked number one in the country for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles, sixth for common robbery, and eighth for other serious crimes.

Although the station has seen a 33% decrease in theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles, it is still ranked number one nationally with 177 cases from the period of July – September.

The station is ranked sixth nationally for burglary at non-residential buildings, with a sharp increase of 40.5% this quarter. The station also recorded an increase of 17.6% in burglary at residential premises, with 87 cases.

Brooklyn station recorded a 10.6% in commercial crimes, and saw a decline of 6.3% in shoplifting, and saw a decline of 18.4% in theft out of motor vehicles.

This quarter, the station only recorded 1 murder case, noted a decrease of 2 counts in sexual offences, a 39.5% decrease in common robbery, but a 34.9% increase in robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The station this quarter had a 10-count increase in assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, as well as in robbery at residential premises.

Kidnapping cases dropped by 3 counts, drug-related crime increased by 3 counts, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs surged by 69.6%.

Garsfontein

Another troubled station in Pretoria is Garsfontein, which ranks at number three nationally for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The station has recorded a slight decline in crime in the category of property-related crime, which includes burglary at residential and non-residential premises.

The station is ranked number 3 nationally and number 2 in the province for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles, recording an increase of 25% with 110 cases this period.

Although burglary at non-residential premises has decreased by 22 counts, with only 11 cases recorded, an increase of 12.6% was recorded in burglary at residential premises.

Commercial crimes have also placed the station number 16 nationally, an increase of 23.5%. Common robbery increased by 9 counts, and no murder cases were recorded.

Kidnapping cases decreased by 3, illegal possession of firearms increased by 4 counts, and shoplifting declined by 11 counts.

No attempted murder cases were recorded this quarter, common assault decreased by 7 counts, 2 counts of rape were recorded, and sexual assault was a count higher compared to the period April – June.

Boschkop

This station covers most agricultural smallholdings, farms and plots in the east of Pretoria and has seen a massive decrease in common robbery, sexual offences, murder, attempted murder, attempted sexual offence, rape and burglary in residential areas.

It continues to be plagued by contact crime, as the station recorded a 14% increase with 178 cases compared to 155 in the previous quarter.

Murder cases increased by 1 count, while sexual offences dropped by 9 counts to take the cases to 7 compared to 16 in the same quarter last year.

The station recorded the same count in common assault cases over the period as the period last year.

Burglaries at non-residential premises had no increase or decrease; they still stand at 8 counts same as in the same quarter last year.

While burglaries at residential premises have dropped by 16 counts, standing at 35 cases compared to 51 of the same period last year.

Carjacking cases dropped by one count; while zero bank robberies, CIT and truck hijackings were recorded.

The station has seen a 17.7% increase in commercial crimes, an increase of 20 counts in theft out of or from motor vehicles, and theft of motor vehicles or motorcycles has increased by 4 counts.

Bronkhorstspruit

Murder cases have decreased by 7 counts, with the station recording at least 2 murders, while sexual offences are at zero.

Attempted murder dropped by 10 counts, common assault dropped by 28.8%, and assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm dropped by 6.8%.

Carjacking grew by 5 counts to 22 cases.

Robberies at residential premises declined by 11 counts (23 down to 12), malicious damage to property dropped by 7 counts, while robberies at non-residential premises grew by 5 counts, taking the cases to 18 compared to 12 of the same quarter last year.

Commercial crimes decreased by 10% (70 to 63 cases).

Theft of motor vehicles or motorcycles decreased by 16 counts (5 cases from 21).

Property-related crimes decreased by 39.7%, while 17 community-reported crimes decreased by 22.4% and kidnapping also dropped by 7 counts.

Silverton

This station has seen significant fluctuations in crime stats.

It is still placed in the top 30 stations plagued by crime nationally.

Silverton ranked number 25 nationally in kidnapping, 22nd in commercial crimes in the whole country, and 20th in the whole country on theft of motor vehicles or motorcycles.

Six murder cases were reported, making it a 6-count increase. Attempted murder grew by 7 counts, common assault grew by 21.2% increase recording 160 cases, making contact crimes increase by 3.8%.

Rape cases have dropped by 7 counts, and sexual assault has dropped by 2 counts.

Theft of motor vehicles or motorcycles has increased by 9.1%, recording 60 cases from 55 in the same period last year.

Theft out of or from vehicles has increased by 13%, and commercial crime has increased by 16.5%.

Kidnapping cases have skyrocketed to 32 cases, which increased by 8 counts from 24 cases in the same quarter last year.

The station has seen a decline of 15 counts in burglaries at non-residential premises: 34 cases down to 19, while burglaries at residential premises dropped by 31 counts.

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia said organised crime is a direct threat to the safety of people, to the growth of the economy, the prosperity of our country and is a threat to our national security.

“Criminal networks fuel violence, entrench corruption and weaken institutions. Organised crime undermines investment and prevents job creation.”

He said the scourge of drugs devastates communities and the prospects of our young people.

“Extortion, kidnappings, vehicle hijackings, gang violence, and cash-in-transit heists have an immediate, terrifying effect on victims and small businesses,” he explained.

Cachalia emphasised that criminal networks infiltrate political parties, government departments and procurement systems to steal public funds.

“These criminals wear fancy suits and designer clothes, pretending they are legitimate business people.”

Cachalia said the priority is the implementation of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy.

“We must focus on prevention. Our approach to fighting crime must focus on arrests, prosecutions, and punishment. While essential, this alone will not create lasting safety. We need what is termed a ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ approach.”

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