Local communities and police have forged a partnership of note as part of the unrelenting fight against crime in South Africa. The success of this relationship is undeniable, as the Sector 4 CPF shares some of their great results from this collaboration.
Anton van Niekerk, vice-chairman for the community police sub-forum 4 of the Midrand Community Policing Forum (CPF) and Takis Michalakis, head of the sub-forum, wanted to share some of the successes that happen when the community and law enforcement work together to fight and prevent crime.
The South African Police Services divided Midrand into five sectors in order to better manage its crime-fighting initiatives.
Read Step up your home security to avoid becoming a victim of crime
The sub-forum of the Midrand Community Policing Forum, headed by Takis Michalakis, recently experienced some excellent successes in working with the police to combat the rise in crime in the area.
The aim of the Sector 4 CPF is to interface between the community and the police to prevent crime from happening in the first place and to try and have regular patrols with the police in order to create a visible policing presence.
Recently criminals who committed serious crimes like house robberies were apprehended while the Sector 4 CPF worked with the Midrand police.
- In the first incident a house robbery was in progress and one of the victims managed to alert a CPF member. The CPF member responded with the support of the police. In spite of the fact that the suspects shot at the police during the pursuit, it did not deter the police. They continued their chase. Eventually, the suspect’s vehicle rolled on the R55 in Blue Hills and a shootout ensued. One of the suspects was wounded and detained and the police recovered a firearm which was thrown from the vehicle in Kyalami.
- Various other police units, including reservists and the K9 unit, joined the efforts during this incident and contributed immensely to its success and the subsequent scene processing. The suspect has appeared in court and investigations are continuing.
- In the second incident, a house robbery was in progress and the CPF was alerted via WhatsApp. The CPF alerted security companies as well as the police and all responded. They were in time to apprehend one of the criminals who was still on the property and also recovered the knife used to threaten the victims as well as some of the stolen goods. The suspect has also appeared in court and investigations are continuing.
Read Police and CPF tackle crime
- Recently, the CPF were on a joint patrol with the police when they were alerted about a house robbery that had just occurred in the Kyalami area. They responded and managed to arrest one of the suspects. A further alert was given out to assist in searching for one of the suspects who was still at large. Eventually, a number of police units, at least seven CPF members, at least four TRSS armed response vehicles and a number of concerned residents assisted in recovering the stolen cellphone. The rest of the suspects escaped but were subsequently arrested when he went to a hospital to seek medical attention for injuries he sustained while fleeing.
- These recent successes are as a result of quick and accurate information being made available to response teams. The positive and supportive interaction between the CPF, the police and security companies and the community, demonstrate how a united front can assist in reducing the crime impact in our communities.
If you live in Kyalami AH, Glenferness, Blue Hills, Sun Valley or Barbeque Downs and would like to become part of the CPF then please send an email to info@myscf.co.za
Have you been assisted by your CPF? We’d love to hear your stories. Please send your stories to us by emailing fourwaysr@caxton.co.za
