The Sophiatown Sector 3 CPF held their annual mass crime meeting at Montgomery Haven Retirement Village in Montgomery Park on 20 October.
SAPS Sophiatown Police Station Commander Brigadier Susan Crafford revealed the crime statistics for Sophiatown as well as surrounding areas.
She said, “The biggest problem in Sophiatown at this stage, is property crimes. ”
Brig Crafford gave statistics for the last six months (1 April – 30 September 2015) in Sophiatown:
assault with an instrument (15); attempted burglaries (7); attempted car-jacking (1);
attempted motor-thefts (5); attempted murder (1); business burglaries (6)
car-jackings (3); common assault (17); common robberies (6)
house robberies (22); rape (1); murder (1)
street robberies (18); malicious damage to property (34); theft in general (69)
theft from a motor vehicle (49) and she highlighted the shocking number of 82 burglaries.
“The number of burglaries and housebreaking and robberies is too high – a way must be found to stop this,” said Brig Crafford.
She added that it is heartbreaking that there are only 46 arrests out of all of these incidents.
“The police need input of the community, we cannot operate without them,” concluded Brig Crafford.
CPF Sector 3 facilitator Ronald Prentice said the biggest problem for the CPF is the lack of resources the police have to offer them but the community has to realise they have to take the first step to fight crime.
Ward 86 Councillor Steve Kotzé said he understands the police have limited resources but they should work in a strategic manner.
“The people on patrol put their lives at risk but have limited arrest powers. A police officer needs to be on standby during the time the patrols are running,” said Councillor Kotzé.
CPF executive Tilly Michaels said the police and the CPF should work together as a team.
“We are a coin of the same side,”said Michaels.
Michaels said she knows the police cannot offer the number of resources the CPF requires but the community should still stand together.
