CRIMINALS stop at nothing when it comes to crime, always looking for innovative ways to steal from innocent people and make a quick buck. With escalating crime rates and a decline of police resources, the collaboration between security companies, CPFs and neighbourhood watches, restores the confidence in the safety of residents.
Queensburgh News caught up with the local neighbourhood watches to find out what they have planned for the year.
Chairwoman of the North Park Neighbourhood Watch, Tracey Ridsdale, said that although their watch has not had a meeting this year, their key focuses this year include getting more homes subscribed. “I’d like for the watch to see a membership growth this year. We are a small watch, of the 600 homes in the area, we only have 60 members at present.
More members mean more people, more eyes and ears to try and prevent crime in a proactive way. At the moment we are reactive and can only take action after the crime has happened,” she said. Ridsdale said that North Park has a few areas of concern, which are closely monitored. “We’ve had reports of house break-ins and house robberies taking place on one road in a space of a few days. We hope to curb these crimes before they become armed robberies. We are grateful for the support from the Malvern SAPS as well as Metro Police,” she added.
Chairman of the Rossburgh Neighbourhood Watch, Gert Saunders, said that his new years resolution for his watch is to mobilise the community. “I’m hoping to get the community and schools involved in cleaning up the area. I’d like to see the watch grow, as it stands, I am the only member of the watch and it is a bit difficult to be both the eyes and ears of the community,” he said.
Although he has since relocated, he said he remains committed to the watch. “I’d like to start an SMS alert notification system for members and get businesses involved in keeping the area crime free. Once that is up and running, I’ll then work towards getting people to put up neighbourhood watch signs outside homes which will make it easier to find them in cases of emergency,” Saunders said. He planned on also talking local neighbouring watches into working together in the active fight against crime.
Communications Officer of the Moseley Neighbourhood Watch, Mark Swan, said his team has their prospects set on doubling the number of patrollers they have. “This year, we’re looking into membership growth, with a total of 1 100 homes, we only have around 150 subscribers. We want to recruit more patrollers, we currently have 23 and want to double this in order to have more hours of patrollers day and night,” he said.
Swan said they will be hosting various fundraisers during the course of the year to support items such as the radio repeater annual license fees, radio communication equipment, area signage, vehicle decals as well as domestic and gardener support programmes. “Our main aim is to have a dedicated Blue Security vehicle 24/7 in the area, this will allow more visibility and quicker response times,” Swan added.
Chairman of the Escombe Neighbourhood Watch, Willie Snyders, said his watch was established in November 2014, and has grown from strength to strength. “In 2016, we hope to grow more and get more households on board. Have more frequent standoff and patrols during which more of the community will been involved alongside the SAPS.
Working closely with the Malvern SAPS, the CPF, local security companies and the community, ENW hopes to achieve its goal to eliminate crime and drive the bad elements out of our area,” he said. Snyders conveyed his thanks to everyone who has assisted his team in any way over the years. “Special thanks goes out to Malvern SAPS, Malvern CPF, Moseley and Kloof Neighbourhood Watches and Blue Security in reaching our goal for a safer neighbourhood.”
