Abandoned Umbilo block a haven for criminals
KZN Community Assist and Disaster Management members are extremely concerned about an abandoned Prospect Road building which they stumbled upon during weekend patrols.
A COMMUNITY safety and secuirty group in greater Umbilo has raised concerns over an abandoned property they stumbled upon while patrolling the area at the weekend.
According to Mark Lombaard, director of KZN Community Assist and Disaster Management, while doing foot patrols of crime hot spots in the area on Saturday night around 9.30pm, the group heard noises and glass breaking at the property on Prospect Road.
“We called for more members and the police but there wasn’t a vehicle available. Even Metro Police couldn’t help us because they said they couldn’t get onto the property without a warrant,” Lombaard said.
As community safety activists, who assist in ensuring the community takes security and safety precautions especially after a recent spate of crime in the lead up to the festive season, Lombaard said the situation was unacceptable.
“This property is a real concern, because we have noticed an increase in hijackings, vehicle theft and armed robberies in recent weeks. When we inspected the property, we found it had been abandoned. We saw a lot of evidence of stolen property, vandalism of the geysers, light fittings and metal taps stolen.”
“The place is completely derelict, yet there is dumping and evidence that people are are either living, squatting or using the place to stake out the homes in the area. There’s also access to nearby neighbouring properties and Pinewood Gardens which has also seen a spike in crime,” he explained.
Lombaard and the KZN Community Assist called on authorities to urgently assist the community before the house became a den for criminals, vagrants and squatters. “It is a security hazard which we cannot afford in the area and a health and safety hazard. There should be danger tape, or security on the property to safeguard the property from being taken over by squatters which will be a bigger problem for neighbours. Another huge issue is that there is a water meter running and since the taps have been stolen, you can see and hear water being wasted which is unacceptable during a drought where people on the Berea have to deal with water cuts,” he said.
Lombaard said the community could not allow the block of flats to become an open house for vagrants and criminals. Umbilo ward councillor, Mmabatho Tembe said while she was not aware of the abandoned building, she was concerned for the health and safety implications it posed to the community and would look into the issue.
