BRACKENDOWNS – The Brackendowns Police Station serves Brackendowns, Brackenhurst, Meyersdal, Mayberry Park, Albertsdal, Thinasonke and Alrode South, a community of over 40 000 households.
SAPS has its own challenges with manpower and number of sector vehicles in service. SAPS resources are further strained by high incidents of domestic violence, driving under the influence and alcohol and drug abuse that affect our community.
The Community Policing Forum (CPF) has a patrol element that patrols the streets in its own time in an effort to extend the “eyes and ears” of the police. The CPF has challenges in mobilising the community, as people only choose to become involved once they have been victims of crime. The reality is that more and more citizens are becoming victims on a daily basis, but most of us don’t know what is going on or we don’t care as long as we are not affected.
Although crime levels were less than anticipated over the festive season, there was a marked increase in housebreakings (burglaries) and house-robberies in January. They encourage the community to become involved in the CPF in one of three ways:
*Become a patroller and help safeguard your community.
*Attend the meetings so that you know what is happening in the area. Make contact with your neighbours so that you can share this information and that you also get to know who is living in your street. The communities are highly vulnerable to criminal attacks because we don’t know who is living in our streets and we don’t pay attention to what is happening at or who is entering our neighbour’s property.
*For those who don’t have the time or are too frail, you can always support the CPF by making a donation to ABSA account 40-7224-1094 in the name of “Brackendowns Community Policing Forum”. Members currently fund all expenses at own cost to keep an eye on the community. A little help from the community could really help.
Currently they have a limited number of dedicated patrollers, but if everyone gets involved, they can make a difference and reduce the levels of crime. Everyone needs to watch out for each other and make the community a safer place. Your contribution can make a difference.
Please contact one of the following members: Geoff Steyn (chairman) 083 411 1144, Claude de Abreu (sector 1: Brackendowns and Extension 5) 072 094 1199, Andre Bothma (sector 2: Brackenhurst and Meyersdal) 082 850 9107, Leon du Plessis (sector 3: Mayberry Park amd Albertsdal) 082 936 9181.
