Residents of Sophiatown are growing concerned over the increasing crime in the surrounding area.
In December last year, residents discovered suspected stolen goods and clothes on Melville Koppies West. Residents found stolen goods and clothes along the branches and shrubbery.
A senior member of the Westdene Community Patrol Frikkie Botes said clothing items, shoes and handbags were strewn all over the place.
“This is the spot where burglars go through their stash before they flee the area,” he said.
“We have also found that there are spots in the Melville Koppies where squatters live,” Botes said, raising concerns about the Koppies increasingly becoming a dwelling place for illegal squatters.
In the past, a number of clean-up operations were organised by surrounding resident associations and security patrols, in cooperation with the local police. Although a lot of effort has been put into making this area crime free, there are still seedy elements that persist.
Residents have been encouraged to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity in their area. The Sophiatown and Westdene Community Patrols have had great success in making sure that suspected illegal activity is detected and dealt within Sophiatown and the surrounding areas.
Details: Frikkie Botes (Westdene Community Patrol) 061 468 1518.
