729 drug-related cases reported in Reiger Park
The 2013/14 crime statistics have indicated that the Boksburg and Reiger Park SAPS have to reconsider their approach to crimes including contact crimes, drug-related crimes and property-related crimes.
According to the 2013/14 national crime statistics released on Friday, September 19, both policing precincts have seen dramatic increase in crimes including murder, assaults, robbery, burglary, theft and drug-related crimes.
Both stations said the spike in the murder rate is alcohol-related and most of them occurred in the informal settlements.
For Reiger Park, the murder rate increased from 22 to 27, and in Boksburg from 14 to 16.
The drug trade remains one of the key crimes that plagues both precincts.
In Reiger Park, an astonishing 729 cases were reported (up from 233 in 2013) and in Boksburg, drug- related crimes reported were 323 (up from 148 in 2013).
Commenting on the drug issue, Boksburg station Commander Col Biggs Govender, states that the high rate in drug-related crime arrests is an indication that police are out in full force to arrest people found in possession of drugs. His unit would like to do more in order to arrest the dealers as well.
The theft rate in both Boksburg and Reiger Park SAPS has increase over the last five years.
In Reiger Park, all theft cases remained high on 358, and in Boksburg it is reportedly 709.
Car-jacking also remains of great concern. Recently, in Reiger Park, Taegrin Morris died at the hands of hijackers who dragged his body outside the stolen vehicle for 8.5km.
In Reiger Park, car-jackings increased from 7 (2013) to 30, and in Boksburg, the number of cases reported were 73.
The statistics showed public violence in Reiger Park has decreased, and remained low in the Boksburg policing precinct. – @FanieBoksburg
