A SPATE of robberies have plagued Umgeni Park residents for several months, with some homes being subjected to three or four consecutive incidents.
Residents of Wedgwood Crescent, Buttery Road and Spode Place have been repeatedly targeted since April last year.
One of the home owners, Lesley Yarde-Leavett, who is also part of the local neighbourhood watch, believes the unrelenting spike started after municipal workers had to service the servitude between Wedgwood Crescent and Riverside Road in March.
“A hole was cut along the fencing on Anthony Road to gain access and was never repaired. Now it provides easy access for criminals into the green belt and our homes. We have been begging the city to have it repaired. But responsibility has been passed down from the parks department to natural resources to the next. However, it seems repairs are set to begin soon,” she said.
“We have about 35 homes in our community footprint and out of those houses, we received reports of 20 incidents by the end of June. Most houses have been affected,” she added.
For the most part, said Yarde-Leavett, the incidents have involved opportunistic criminals, targeting laptops and handbags. However, she said they do suspect that there is a syndicate operating in the area as well.
“They follow the same modus operandi and we suspect that it is the same gang. They are in and out within a few minutes and don’t seem to be deterred by the alarm systems, barbed wire or high walls of the properties,” she said.
“The green belt is supposed to be maintained by the municipality, but it is not. There are also several holes along the fencing of Riverside Road. The criminals use the bush to escape and hide,” she said. Another source of trouble, added Yarde-Leavett was a vacant property on Hillbrow Road.
“These weak areas leave us exposed. If they were cleared and properly maintained we would be better able to protect ourselves. This is a wonderful area to live in with a beautiful view. If we could work together with the municipality and the authorities we would be able to put up a united front,” she said.
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