New Germany active residents fight off crime
The Berkshire Downs Active Residents (BDAR) has partnered with security companies and have been receiving support from SAPS and Metro police to make New Germany a safe place.
WITNESSING the increase in crime and being a victim prompted a New Germany resident to launch, Active Residents of South Africa (Arosa), with the first one being the Berkshire Downs Active Residents (BDAR).
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Mervin Moodley said his parents have been residing in the New Germany area for the past 20 years and it frustrates him that criminals are taking over.
“Each month, there are always reports of home invasions and hijackings. About two months ago, a man was stabbed to death during a home invasion. This has been happening for years,” said Moodley.
Moodley said his parents have also been victims of crime.
“They were coming from church and as they entered the premises, they were held up by three men. They took TVs, cash, laptops, tablets and phones. They loaded the items into my father’s car and fled.
As the suspects fled the scene, they attempted to hijack a prominent Durban videographer and his wife on Reading Avenue in Berkshire Downs, New Germany who were in the area to photograph a wedding.
The couple was injured as their Golf 7 was riddled with bullets.
On 23 January, a police captain who worked at the Public Order Police Unit in Mariannhill, was shot dead outside his home in Oberreuter Road, New Germany,” said Moodley.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Police commissioner calls for manhunt following fatal shooting of Pinetown SAPS captain
The captain was the second officer to be gunned down in New Germany in a space of a month. On 24 December 2019, a Pinetown constable was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of a state-owned Quantum minibus with a gunshot wound to his head in Ridge Road, New Germany.
At the weekend BDAR partnered with local security companies supported by the SAPS and Metro police hosted a crime awareness campaign. The aim was address the high rate of crime.
He said community cameras currently being installed in Berkshire Downs will be monitored via the satellite station and Metro police.
“Residents will also have access to them by logging in on their phones.
“We believe the right partnerships between communities and ethical partners, can and will result in safer communities. BDAR is the first community, the community I live in, that we have started this in.”
“Our partnerships with security companies has resulted in visible patrols in Berkshire Down being stepped up.
“We have also received support from the SAPS and Metro police and will be engaged in meetings going forward to work with them in addressing the festive period crime concerns,” said Moodley.
In addition, Moodley said the satellite station will be also be used as a stand-off point from where armed response units will respond to calls in the community
Anyone interested in getting involved or finding out more about Arosa/BDAR, can contact Moodley on 0612567701.
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