Crime is generally down throughout the Honeydew Precinct save for violent crime and robberies in driveways, which have increased since September last year. This was revealed at a Honeydew Sector 1 Community Policing Forum meeting at The Barn Christian Fellowship, Boskruin, on 13 October, where the sector’s police, Community Policing Forum, security companies, residents’ associations and general public discussed crime in the sector, and the ways it can be challenged.
Crime was generally down by about five percent throughout the precinct, but violent crime has increased by 12 per cent, and robberies in driveways increased by 22 per cent, the forum’s chairperson Greg Pearce said. Robberies in driveways generally occur when residents return home in their vehicles in the afternoons, and can develop into robberies at home.
Constable Elliot Sioga reported that in the last month:
- Sixteen people were arrested for illegal camping during a greenbelt operation throughout the precinct, 14 of these were arrested in Sector 1.
- Twenty illegal immigrants were arrested on 16 September, seven of these were in Sector 1.
- Honeydew Police is achieving its target of 24 drug-related arrests per week near Banbury Cross Village, North Riding.
- Honeydew Police still frequently patrols Golden Harvest Park to prevent muggings. Pearce later confirmed that an incident had not been reported in the park for three weeks, a surprise to the forum.
The forum’s vice chairperson Roger Costopoulos reported that the most stolen vehicles in the precinct are Toyotas, the second most are Volkswagen Polos and the third are Hyundai i10s and i20s. Trojan Security operations manager Dirk Botha appealed to residents to test their alarm systems, as recent lightning storms might have disabled them.
ER24 Johannesburg West branch manager Hentie Malan told residents that they can contact him directly for faster ambulance response. His number is 084 460 7006. The forum will visit Northgate Shopping Centre on 22 November to raise awareness about itself.
Areas in Honeydew Sector 1 include Boskruin, Bromhof, Bush Hill Estate Agricultural Holdings (AH), Glen Dayson AH, Hunter’s Hill AH, Kelly Ridge, Northhgate, North Riding AH, Northwold, Randpark Ridge, Sonneglans, Strijdom Park and Sundowner.
Details: Honeydew Police 011 801 8613, Honeydew Community Policing Forum 011 801 8576.
