During the monthly Edenvale Community Police Forum meeting, which was held on March 29, the ECPF raised a number of concerns.
The meeting was opened by Mrs Helen Simpson, the ECPF secretary, who also gave the chairperson report in the absence of Ms Linda McKenzie.
In the report Mrs Simpson highlighted some concerns of the ECPF, which included:
- Residents not having enough security at their homes.
- Residents leaving garden tools in their gardens which are then used for house burglaries.
- Residents being hijacked in their driveways.
- False crime being reported and causing fear.
- Criminal elements hiding among the vagrants of Edenvale and
- Drug-related crimes in the area, particularly the Edenvale CBD.
Mrs Simpson said many of the concerns could be prevented if community members were more vigilant.
She urged the community to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or people in Edenvale.
After the ECPF chairperson report was given, Colonel Ben Baloyi Head of the Detective Services of Edenvale Police Station gave both the station commander’s report and the detective report.
He said station commander Colonel Malesela Malupane apologised for not being able to attend the meeting.
Colonel Baloyi said between March 1 and March 29 there were over 80 arrests made.
He said the largest contributor to the arrests was drunken driving.
Fifty-four people were arrested for drunken driving.
He said the second largest contributor to the high number of arrests for March was shoplifting.
Col Baloyi said shoplifting was mainly happening in the Greenstone and Stoneridge areas.
The remaining arrests were made for:
- Assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm
- Business burglary
- Common assault
- Domestic abuse
- Fraud
- General theft
- Shoplifting
- Possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
In the month of March, 335 cases were reported to the Edenvale SAPS. The courts found 26 individuals guilty.
At the meeting Sergeant Jacob Mashile, head of Social Crime Prevention, urged women in the community to become more involved in the newly created Women Empowerment Network.
He said the network hopes to empower women and help them speak out about domestic abuse.
Sgt Mashile said in the future he hopes to launch a similar initiative for men, called Men for Change.
The next ECPF meeting will be held on April 26.
For more on how to prevent crime read: https://www.citizen.co.za/bedfordview-edenvale-news/279714/saps-calls-for-community-assistance/
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