An occasional business robbery is reason enough for concern, but when burglaries become the weekly norm people are left desperate.
This is the reality for the businesses in Ivor Road, in Industries West, and they have been battling to have something done about it since last year.
The criminals follow the same modus operandi in each of the incidents.
“They approach the businesses from behind pull up our roofs and gain entry to the building,” explained Paul da Silva, owner of just one of the street’s companies.
Da Silva took GCN journalists down the street and through the surrounding areas to explain the full scope of what businesses are dealing with.
“There are two abandoned railway houses in which the criminals live,” he explained.
“They also use the houses to strip the copper wire they have stolen from the businesses; we have found evidence of this.”
During the GCN’s walk through the area bundles of cables could be seen hidden in the long grass, while a pile of already burnt and stripped cables were found next to one of the abandoned houses.
“The other aid criminals have is the long grass; they are able to hide in it.
“The security company’s personnel are too afraid to go looking for them in there,” said da Silva.
The companies claim that the Germiston SAPS and Prasa, to whom the ground behind the businesses and abandoned houses belong, have been willing to help them.
WO André de Jager, spokesman for the Germiston SAPS responded to the businesses claims.
“I have spoken to Col Samson Matlala, the Vispol Commander,” he said.
“He agreed that the crime in that short street is on the rise and recently visited the businesses in the street, as well as the abandoned houses.
“All the small businesses dealing with scrap metals create an environment that makes crime easier.
“Matlala has since instructed Const Emmanuel Mokadi, the sector commander, to visit the business owners and form a business forum, so that crime and security concerns can be addressed and resolved.”
The GCN also contacted Prasa about the overgrown grass and the abandoned houses being used by criminals, but has received no comment from them.
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