ECPF chair expresses concern about crime increase

At the monthly Edenvale Community Policing Forum (ECPF) meeting held on June 29, the chairperson expressed concern about an increase in crime.

In her opening report Mrs Linda McKenzie, chairperson of the ECPF, said that crime in Edenvale has been escalating over the course of the last month.

“Edenvale is one of nine areas in the Tembisa cluster,” said Mrs McKenzie.

She said that out of those nine areas Edenvale had one of the lowest crime stats; however, according to her “there is need for alarm”.

She said that a meeting was held during the week of June 24 to tell the neighborhood watch to be extra vigilant.

To try reduce the amount of residential burglaries, Mrs McKenzie highlighted the importance of communication and teamwork within the community by:

•  Informing neighbours when you are going on holiday so that they can keep an eye on the property and take your mail indoors if you ask them to.
•  Keep lights or the television on when you leave the house for a little while, to create the illusion or make burglars believe someone is home.
•  Invest in motion sensor garden lights that will switch on when someone walks past the sensor in your garden.
•  Make sure that all doors are locked, such as the door from the garage to the house.
•  Invest in deadbolts for doors.
•  Comply with burglars if you are in the house and they ask for the location of the safe.
•  Photograph and record valuables.

“Burglars are opportunistic criminals,” said Mrs McKenzie.

“If a property looks normal and there is visible activity on the premises, burglars will be more hesitant.”

Mrs McKenzie said that the neighbourhood watch has grown and now has well over 100 volunteers who give up their time.

“It’s a way for neighbours to get to know each other better” she said.

At the meeting, Edenvale SAPS station commander, Colonel Eddie Trollip stated that for the month of June there had been 89 arrests that were related to serious crimes, which included assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Col Trollip said that the crimes that showed increase in comparison to June 2015 were aggravated robbery, residential robberies, business burglaries and theft of motor vehicles.

He said that sedans and pickups of Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai were being targeted.

He said that theft out of motor vehicles had stabilised.

“If you hear a noise in the garden, do not go and investigate. Wait inside for the police,” said Col Trollip.

“The issue regarding the setting up of new sector numbers should be done by July 1,” said Col Trollip.

Edenvale SAPS communications officer Warrant Officer Jean Olkers later provided the following sector numbers:

•  071 675 6841 for sector one.
•  071 675 6842 for sector two.
•  071 675 6843 for sector three.
•  071 675 6844 for sector four.

W/O Olckers said to contact the SAPS for emergencies, complaints, suspects or suspicious vehicles, residents must make use of the 10111 number or contact the station directly on 011 553 8600/97, 011 553 8600/97 can also be used for inquiries in connection to cases opened or other inquiries regarding Edenvale SAPS matters.

“We prefer 10111 as the caller gets a reference number and calls are recorded,” said W/O Olckers.

W/O Olckers said, “The sector numbers provided are not replacements for the 10111 numbers and are used as way to get hold of the complaints vehicle directly that patrol within the sectors.” Sector numbers can, however, be used to report suspicious vehicles, a person behaving suspiciously and to request more patrols.

“It is important to understand that the two or three officers might be on a call and when residents phone sector numbers and it goes to voicemail. Bad signal in areas also affect calls. Make use off 10111 as the first option and use the sector telephone number for the reporting of the above mentioned,” said W/O Olckers.

“Some of the crimes that show a slight increase include, residential robbery and business burglaries,” said W/O Olckers.

“Together, the community and SAPS can make a difference.”