Home invasions on the rise – Bedfordview CPF warns

The Bedfordview CPF (BCPF) has warned that home invasions are on the increase and that this might be the case throughout the festive season.

According to Janine Dalgleish, the chairperson of BCPF, this trend usually spikes in winter.

“In winter up to January, that’s when we generally see an increase in home invasions.

“Especially around the festive season, starting from September, but especially in winter because there’s a lot of distractions such as veld fires,” said Dalgleish.

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She stated that Bedfordview, along with neighbouring areas such as Edenvale, Germiston, and Kempton Park, has seen an uptick in home invasions during the winter.

“Bedfordview has a massive vagrant problem. If you drive around the area you’ll find on most of the corners and intersections there are people begging at the traffic lights. And this contributes to an increase in crime,” she said.

She said most home invasions are due to the proximity of open plots of land and the Bill Stewart Nature Reserve where there’s easy access in and out of the properties.

The inadequate camera coverage in key areas make it challenging to manage and prevent criminal activities.

“We’re trying to raise funds to put more cameras in Bedfordview, to get more coverage on the hotspots, because we found that where we do have cameras, the crime has decreased significantly. Cameras have assisted greatly in apprehending suspects.”

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Residents are encouraged to adopt a multi-layered approach to home security which includes installing electric fences, setting up comprehensive camera systems, and linking them to offsite monitoring services like Safer City, which offers real-time surveillance and intervention.

“What people can do is be vigilant. Always be aware of their surroundings. Do not leave your gates open and ensure that your home is locked and protected,” she stated.

“Make sure that the people that work on your premises are vetted. Do background checks on the people that come in and out of their properties.

“Whether it be people who are building or landscapers ensure they are legitimate and are not there for sinister purposes,” stressed Dalgleish.

Residents are encouraged to continue reporting crime as it is essential for pattern analysis.

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“What we find is that a lot of people are hesitant to open cases. Unfortunately, without the cases being opened, SAPS has no record of these incidents, and therefore cannot put resources in.

“Even if residents are sceptical, reporting crimes helps us track and address emerging trends.

“It also helps in securing case numbers for insurance purposes and provides support through our victim empowerment services.”

Current hotspots identified by BCPF include Klopperpark and Elandsfontein, with notable incidents occurring on highways, off-ramps, and Douglas Road in Bedfordview.

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In Klopperpark, common crimes involve property theft, including gate motors and garden equipment, while Elandsfontein has seen a rise in armed robberies, particularly targeting spaza shops.

She also urged residents to refrain from giving money to vagrants and instead contribute to soup kitchens and verified NPOs that assist the homeless.

And called on the community to continue supporting the organisation through donations to be able to install the LPR cameras to curb crime.

For enquiries on integrating CCTV systems into the Safer City network, residents may email info@bcpf.co.za