Booysens and Moffat View named among top 30 in robbery at residential premises

Booysens and Moffat View police stations are among the country’s top three stations that recorded high robberies at residential premises and robberies at non-residential premises.

This is according to the latest SAPS crime statistics, which were released on November 25, and were recorded between July and September 2024 – the second quarter.

The Southern Courier looked at the numbers, and here is what we found:

Booysens and Moffat View police stations featured in only two of the so-called trio crimes – carjacking, robbery at residential areas and robbery at non-residential areas.

Breakdown of the numbers:

Booysens Police Station recorded 39 incidences of robberies at residential premises between July and September 2024, compared to 57 incidences last year during the same period – this means there were 18 counts lower.

Moffat View Police Station recorded 32 cases, compared to 57 last year – 25 counts lower.

The stats indicate an improvement. However, Booysens still sits at number 15 out 30 police stations in the country as a whole that recorded high robbery at residential premises, while Moffat View is at number 26 out of 30 police stations in the country that recorded the same crime.

Booysens Police Station also reported 24 incidences of robberies at non-residential premises between July and September 2024, compared to 36 last year during the same period – 12 counts lower.

Again, there are improvements but the station is at number 12 out of 30 police stations in the country that recorded incidences of robberies at non-residential premises.

These numbers only reflect instances where people walked into a police station to report a crime and opening a case. SAPS then collects all these numbers of different crimes, from all the police stations in South Africa, compiles them and releases them to the public on a quarterly timeframe.

Moffat View Police Station commented on the latest recorded crime statistics:

Captain Pule Motsuenyane said they attribute the latest results to:

• Visible policing and posting members during peak day and times at hot spot areas.

• Community engagement, deployment of patrollers, securities, and police reservists.

• Awareness campaigns at communal and rental properties played a role as well, especially at rental rooms, as criminals target them.

Motsuenyane also pointed out that they have noticed that suspects target these premises because they hit one house with three to four rooms, targeting TVs, cellphones and cash during peak hours, particularly early hours of the morning between 02:00 to 05:00. The most targeted suburbs are Rosettenville, The Hill, Regent Park, Linmeyer and Towerby.

Captain Lorraine van Emmerik from Booysens Police Station said: “The decrease in the crime is due to more involvement from the community in fighting the crime, a new election of CPF executive members, meetings with the community to get information, the station is doing joint operations with other law enforcement agencies, security and community regularly to combat crime. We also profile suspects during arrests and check if they can be linked to other cases in the area.”

Van Emmerick said they also continue working with community members and other role players in the fight against crime.