Two adjacent petrol stations on the M1 highway North and South, popularly known as Big Bird in Midrand, are the epicentre of crime.
This is according to the acting station commander of the Midrand Police Station Colonel Hosea Mantji.
He said this when delivering the station commander’s report during the Midrand Community Policing Forum (CPF) meeting on September 18 at the Midrand Police Station.
Read more: Midrand police and CPF call on youth to join
Mantji said although the crime statistics from August to September saw a significant improvement, Big Bird petrol stations were a concern.
“So, what I would like you to help us with, is this area called Big Bird where multiple passengers are changing or going to various busses, and people rushing to the shops leaving vehicles unlocked at times. That area is giving us problems. That is why when you see crime stats there, you saw that theft out of the vehicle is very high,” said Mantji.
Also read: Midrand CPF Search and Rescue member laid to rest
He urged residents to remain vigilant in that area. Regarding burglaries, Mantji further advised residents to ensure that gates, doors, and windows are locked because burglaries will one day turn into murder. “Security companies that are patrolling, can we please make a turn at Big Bird? From our side, there are permanent members who we have strategically placed there to ensure that they monitor that place according to the time of crime stats,” added Mantji.
President Park resident, and secretary of the Southeast Midrand Suburban Alliance, Reshma Somaroo asked what was Big Bird management doing to mitigate the scourging crime.
In his response, Mantji said there was a change of security servicing the station, and he hopes that in the coming quarter they will be present in the meeting.
Midrand CPF deputy chairperson Anton Van Niekerk, in his chairperson’s report, said they were pleased that crime patterns have drastically dropped.
“We had the stats coming up, it is now green, meaning it looks good. But previously, it was in the red meaning we were under siege. Midrand was a hotspot and was top three problematic stations in Gauteng. The fact that crime has been brought down, shows that officers are on the ground and are doing well,” said Van Niekerk.
He said they were pleased with the statistics and heaped praise on the police officials.
Van Niekerk urged residents to report crime, irrespective of how small they think it is.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Midrand CPF is gearing up for sectors chairperson elections
-
-
-
-
