Vagrants chased out of parks

Linden and Sophiatown’s Neighbourhood Watch joined forces with ADT, Combat Service Support (CSS) tactical team on 23 October in the aim of reducing crimes in parks.

“Based on the request from residents and the fact that crime has picked up, we have decided to join forces and chase away vagrants who live in parks,” said Linden Neighbourhood Watch’s Fareed Hoosen.

“For the past months, smash-and-grabs started picking up, housebreaking and robberies have also picked up – residents don’t feel safe.

“So they [residents] from Emmarentia and Linden and other areas have decided that we need a joint operation to reduce crime,” said Hoosen.

He also confirmed that they will be doing their operations every week to ensure the safety of residents.

Victory Park area manager Chris Nolte informed that the team is doing everything they. “People come to Johannesburg to make money. And then when everything fails, they start staying in parks,” he said.

He added that, “We want City Parks to come here and clean up this place and make it friendly and safe.”

Vagrants that were found were asked to leave the parks.

“There is a group of guys who stay here and as a result, there are a lot of burglaries and robbery around the area,” informed Hoosen.

He also highlighted that they want residents to understand that it is safe to come to the park. “The park is a beautiful place to be. People cycle here every day; we want the community to feel safe; people shouldn’t feel threatened,” concluded Hoosen.