Veld in Jansen Park hotspot for muggings
The Legendary Guardians security company will monitor the area.
The open land opposite the East Rand taxi rank, between First Road and Edgar Street, has apparently become a den for thieves.
Philani Mdlalose, a resident who lives opposite the open space, said muggings were common.
“Thieves hide behind the precast wall. Pedestrians use this piece of land in and out of Jansen Park, but a section of the wall was removed. Thieves prey on these people,” said Mdlalose, who added that he knew of a woman who was robbed and stabbed in the veld.
“No one saw the culprits because of the wall. It must be removed and replaced with a palisade fence so people living nearby can see what is happening.
“Vagrants also sleep near the wall and inside the concrete pipes in the veld. I suspect they are behind the robberies,” said Mdlalose.
Three employees of Caxton Local Media also almost fell victim to an armed robbery while walking to work from the East Rand Mall taxi rank through the veld just after 06:00 on August 10.
According to one employee, the robber approached them, pulled out a gun and tried to rob them.
“They screamed for help as they ran from the suspect, and security personnel from a nearby apartment block came to their rescue. The suspect ran away,” she explained.
She said their daily route was between Edgar Street and First Road, and they had noticed these streets don’t have functioning lights, which added to the risk for pedestrians.
Clinton Festraets, the director of Legendary Guardians security company, confirmed that criminals almost robbed the Caxton employees, and his security personnel came to their rescue.
“The wall needs to be fixed and made higher to prevent suspects from running through or jumping over it. I have informed my staff to be on high alert in the mornings and afternoons and monitor the area closely,” said Festraets.
He said they are installing more cameras to cover the crime hotspots in the area, including this area.
Also Read: Private properties, metro land are turning into jungles
Also Read: CPF cuts grass for a safer Comet Village, appeals for equipment
