POLICE are warning residents of Friesland Drive, Marburg to be alert, as a number of houses have been struck by a surge in the crime rate recently. The area has become a hotspot for housebreakings.
Just last week, Ahmed Ismail had his house broken into twice. A substantial sum of cash, cellphones, food, gas bottles and bicycles were stolen. The family was not at home when the incident occurred.
A devastated Mr Ismail said he has lost his only source of income as the gas bottles were used in the preparation of food that he sold. “I moved into this house almost a week ago and I am shocked at the rate of housebreakings in this area. I have now decided to pack up and move,” he said.
During the early hours of Tuesday morning this week, burglars ripped out copper pipes from another resident, Florie Joseph’s house on Friesland Drive.
“Tons of fresh water were lost and I have now incurred unnecessary costs in hiring a plumber to rectify the problem,” said Ms Joseph. “The crime rate in this area in on the increase and solutions will have to be found quickly.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid stressed that robbers are likely to hide in overgrown bush and in areas where streets are poorly lit. “The concern is that housebreakings can possibly result in a murder or a rape,” said Lt-Col Wiid. She suggested that residents enlist their immediate neighbours to look after their premises when they are away.
She added that it was vital that the community become involved in assisting the police, either by means of an active community policing forum, or by contacting the station commander to report suspicious people or activities, and to offer assistance.
