Strong sense of community is solution
Helderkruin Hill not more crime ridden than other areas.
A group of residents from Helderkruin Hill is up in arms over allegations made by a neighbour regarding the alleged out-of-control situation surrounding Skyhawk Close.
Dean Strang and his wife Storm called an emergency meeting with the community and police on 4 September to discuss the crime situation and possible solutions. The group under the guidance of Monty Els and Leon Carstens is not happy with the picture that was painted. According to them, though they suffer from crime, it is not more than in other areas. Carstens says crime in the area is not out of control and the community only is standing together to protect themselves and each other. The group wanted to address certain points that they feel is not true because they now fear that their properties will lose its value and that their reputation as businesspeople has been tarnished.
• Carstens says he is the only one who takes his firearm with him when responding but he never has fired it. One resident, Pieter Louw, says he once fired two shots but that was because he tried to scare intruders in his house. Louw and his wife have been attacked brutally before.
• As far as the group being portrayed as ‘trigger happy vigilantes’ running the streets, they deny this as well. They have been known to take paintball guns and pellet guns with them and say what Strang might have perceived as gunshots were the fire crackers they used to scare away criminals.
• They also are upset about the controversy surrounding the nursery school in the area. The one time shots were fired was at night when the school was closed. According to the group the school is perfectly safe but now the Strangs’ accusations are impacting on the owner of the school negatively.
• The group says they understand that the police does not have the resources to protect them all the time and has praised ADT, Dowry and Helderkloof Neighbourhood Watch for their “excellent work and response”. Els pointed out that the group never goes on patrol or responds without being accompanied by one of the professional security companies.
• The group also questioned Strang’s statistics saying it differs from theirs. According to them they are in constant radio contact with the security companies as well as the neighbourhood watch, and the figures they receive are not the same as Strang’s.
“We stand together and have become like a family. If anything the incidents have strengthened our bond and sense of community, and in this we believe lies the answer to the problem. Unfortunately Strang has other agendas and has chosen to exclude himself from this strong chain; yet he was quick to call upon us when he was in trouble,” says Carstens.
Els also said a cement palisade will not do anything to solve the problem and that only the interaction between the residents, neighbourhood watch and security companies will be successful.
We could not have done a better job to keep it simple and to the point. Thanks for an excellent article!! Skyhawk Close Owner
Dankie vir die goeie artikel. Kon dit nie beter myself gesê het nie. Dit is lekker om weer iets positief te lees oor Helderkruin Hill. Dankie aan al my bure wat ons op pas en veilig hou. …gelukkige inwoner van Skyhawk Close :)
How can 5 breaks-ins and 1 attempted break-in at Boeing and Skyhawk in less than a month. In addition, this past Friday and early this morning, not be that the crime in the area is out of control?
I don’t know where you are getting all your info from , you moved out and left your dog all alone for 2weeks or more and you still haven’t moved back and it’s been 5weeks already…. so please compare our crime to other areas we are not near as bad as you give out to be !!!!!
As advised the stats come from the Helderkruin Hill Resident Association (HHRA) and the Police. The Police have issued warnings against reckless firearm usage. Please contact Roodepoort Police to confirm. A neighbour in Skyhawk was attacked this morning. Please get your facts straight.
The stats were received by consultation with the Helderkruin Hill Residents Association (HHRA) and senior police management. Kindly contact the above mentioned organisations to confirm. In addition, the Roodepoort Police station can be contacted to confirm resident(s) have be issued with a warning for unsafe discharging of a firearm on the 30th August 2014 in unrelated events to the one mentioned above. Carstens acknowledges within the article by admission a Skyhawk resident was “attacked brutally before”. This occurred in the month of July 2014.
I would like to comment to say that in the article “i said the crime is not out of hand.” I just want to correct that!!!! The crime is out of hand and we need to stand together and to fight this problem. No one was attack this morning it was housebreaking and no one was hurt. ( Thank God for that).I was up from 1 to 4 trying to pin point them but with no success.They broke in just before 5 entering from the backyard. Please lets just stand together and catch them.
I agree with you Leon we should stand together and use all the resources we can. The police, city parks, HHRA, HKNW and the ward councillor. Please explain to Monty that the crime is out of hand in the area, and I have the correct stats.
Hi All,
I think it is important to note that all is done to campaign against what is happening in the area. It is up to ourselves to acknowledge if we want to stay here and protect what’s ours. IF NOT , maybe those can find a CRIME FREE AREA to stay at. To those that think they know it all, please re-asses your position in Helderkruin Hill, as this has become a circus of note and all to see. I value my family and property and do not want all (criminals included) to see these issue’s.
Leon, thanks for acknowledging our situation, from that we can only move forward.
The circus above is created by unsubstantiated statements.
Monty, we need to work through the police foremost (not against them) regardless of capacity, as they are mandated to protect and serve. If anything this article makes it worse for the nursery school. No parent wants any shots to be fired regardless.
Good advise for someone not even staying in Helderkruin. Well done Mr and Mrs Strang. You have proofed absolutely NOTHING. Stop playing around on chat rooms and secure your unsafe property which are some of the reason for the criminal activity in our street. Your house is an open invitation to criminals! Do something about your OWN security and stop this childish behavior!
Yes, it is good advice to work with the police.
Dean Dean Dean. Me and Monty at this moment is patrolling our neighborhood. Yes the crime is there and we ( Monty, Me, Louis, Peter, Andre, Cassie ) aren’t just going to sit and let this street goes to the dumbs. Come get up from where you are and come help us to protect out love ones inside our houses. We cant wait for organizations to help us ( Just look if anything came from this past 2 weeks). We cant just wait Dean, otherwise if we wait more something might happened to someone we love. I think personally we must make Monty head of security and I will stand by him doesn’t matter what. I am glad some organization will help us but while we waiting for them lets do something about our beautiful family homes and try to protect it with maximum effort
We never said we don’t want to work with the police!!! We want to but in the mean time we will help till they get it under control. :-)Im sure the SAPS will put up a mobile police station in our area like eg Weltevreden Park and then the numbers will drastically fall
Give that man a Bells!
Well done on an excellent article and for publishing both sides of the story. We are after all in this together. Special appreciation goes out to those men (you know who you are) who thanklessly drop everything at the drop of a hat to always avail yourselves day and night and assisting along with SAPS and security companies.We salute you and your precious families!
It is important for all parties concerned to give their view point and figure out a solution. Through active discussion, we can identify problems and implement resolutions. I encourage everyone to remain to the facts. I would like to see any proposed resolution by the 3 residents below of Skyhawk being incorporated with the Helderkruin Hill Residents Association (HHRA). The HHRA makes up the remainder 95% of our community. Without them on-board all your “Groups” efforts will yield limited results, regardless of how persistent. Being part of patrols should be voluntary and not be forced on community members. Many of our fellow neighbours have already indicated they are not in a position to conduct patrols, citing various reasons. We need to respect such individual’s rights. There are other solutions. Bringing the HHRA to Skyhawk will give the residents of Skyhawk more power to act against criminal activity.
a well-written article, thank you Riaan. I agree, while the police are deciding on a plan of action, the residents need to stand together (as many of the owners are) and work with one another. Its no use waiting Dean, be proactive in the moment and once they’ve(police) decided on a plan of action it can then be followed through. As a mother of 2 – an infant and a toddler, I am grateful for my neighbours contribution in helping to make a difference in our neighbourhood and putting their lives at risk to try and keep us safe.
We have been proactive in the moment mobilizing an emergency meeting.
Hi Dean,
This will be my last comment.
Fact: Our neighbours in SkyHawk and Boeing at the back stand together and has IMPLEMENTED solutions. Unfortunately you are the only one that has alienated yourself from all your immediate neighbours. Fact: You are the only one belonging to Chubb, where we as community belong to ADT. Fact: All in SkyHawk belong to the neighbourhood watch and you belong to HHRA(?). It seems that we are maybe doing the wrong thing according to you, but actions at this stage speak louder than words. 7 SkyHawk out!!!
Hi Louis,
It’s probably not your last comment.
Please share your solutions with your community, for all to benefit. Chubb and HHRA are recognized and supported by your community.
Fact:
The “Alienated Neighbours” publically told various stakeholders at an emergency meeting their crime is not out of control (4th September 2014), even though the entire community wanted support from the SAPS. Monty, Please tell your community why the SAPS stats are incorrect as pointed out by you and you know more than them?
The SAPS committed to doing an inspection of affected areas the following day. They did so and after they completed their review, your son-in (Monty) put on WhatsApp “F**k the Police”. Now the “Alienated Neighbours” call on the SAPS and want to know where they are? The incident was reported to the SAPS.
Pieter Louw lied in the article, he has been issued a warning for unsafe firing of firearm by the SAPS on the 30th August 2014.
I would rather alienate and distance myself from such behaviour and join forces with the SAPS and community.
All the comments (From 3 Skyhawk residents) show to your community that there are concerns for the actions cared out on Skyhawk.
Sorry word correction “carried” not “cared”.
This will be my last comment as well because I’m not going to entertain a village idiot! You ARE NOT part of the community. You ran away with your tail between your legs. You don’t live here. You are a coward like you stated in your article. Glad you at least acknowledge that! Stop using my husband and son in laws names and stop putting words in Monty’s mouth. This coming from a man who cannot even look people in the eyes! Be a man not a mouse!!!!!!!!!!! The day you live here, that day you can have an opinion, mr Know-it-all.
Hello DEAN STRANG
Just want to let you know that MONTY AND HIS TEAM is doing the best they can and if you have a problem please keep it to yourself . I can also be a bitch about everything and still dont have a solution!! So my guess would be before you throw your toys-out-of-the-cot please give us an solution. One again thank you MONTY and his team im proud to be a helderkruin member
To my neighbors. I think we must all just ignore Dean. He is just looking for attention. I just hope he is not sending all these messages from his work place.
Hi Amanda,
I removed minor children from a dangerous situation. Fortunately I have the means to do so. You haven’t been attacked, nor do you have minor children on your property. Therefore you not in a position to comment. Monty decided to go to the media, put his own name out there and make various claims. So he needs to deal with all the attention that comes with such claims. All your statements and actions show you are selfish and careless to the safety of minor children.
Dean. You are not the only human being with children on this planet! I am selfish when it comes to my family. Sad to know you are not! Like I said…..VILLAGE IDIOT! You put your name out there too. So don’t play the victim. You were attacked ONCE not twice. The second time your wife called MONTY and the rest of the neighborhood to go and save your sorry ass! But I will not allow my husband and son to rescue you ever again. You can rot in hell for all I care. Don’t ever speak about my family EVER again. You are getting personal and it’s NOT ALL ABOUT DEAN! It’s supposed to be about safety! One thing is for sure, you will NEVER get ANY help from my family again. You are not worth it! Good bey and I hope You have a wonderful and blissful life!!!!
Thanks to everybody for the positive comments. There is only one negative person in all this. Do I need to say more?
Hi Carmen,
“toys-out-of-the-cot” are not been through out of cot. As previously indicated, the solution will come from all parties concerned the community, police, city parks, HHRA, HKNW and the ward councillor. Please forward your recommendations/solutions. In the mean time we should respect the SAPS efforts and understand they take priority.
I hope the Roodepoort Record will be doing a third follow up article to obtain the SAPS input. As the community needs to know were they stand and action taken so far.
I think the only people that have positive things to say are Leon, Bianca, Dean and myself. Everything from anybody else is personal attacks which will not solve this situation. Everyone has there option. I don’t have a problem with people choosing to patrol to safe guard there families, the issue is that the article says that the crime is not bad in the area, but that was clarified.
Yes, that was proactive Dean, but how has it helped exactly??? The crime is still happening and there is no solution from the parties involved at the meeting. Yes, we all do want the SAPS involvement, but like I said, Dean, it is a slow process. In the moment you have vacated your property, while we are still living here and you actually don’t have a cooking clue what is happening here while you are residing elsewhere. So, in the interim, the neighbours are standing together to assist one another. I don’t quiet know what you don’t understand. And no one is undermining the police…we know they are extremely busy and that solutions will be made in due time. My husband, together with Monty and the other neigbours were good enough to be called to assist you while you sat behind closed doors with a baseball bat when the intruders approached your property for a 2nd time and all you did was tell them that they’ve run back into the veld and they went after them. was there even a thanks from you? but, you are so quick to pin point and tell of their apparent wrong doings. If it wasn’t for the neighbours quick response your situation may have panned out quiet differently that day!
Hi Bianca, the essence of the fact is Skyhawk residents had their window of opportunity to tell top brass of their crime problems. It was at this point we should have been a united front and demand their help. The Skyhawk residents informed top brass the crime was not out of control. They even went further to tell the media to such effect. We essentially lost our window of opportunity, that is what I’m most upset about. Maybe the two incidents last week Friday and this Monday could have been averted with committed pressure applied to the SAPS. How can the SAPS take us seriously? Obtaining the SAPS respect and being united will cause them to act quicker. We can’t demand action from the SAPS if we relay the message crime is not out of control. Patrols can be conducted as long as nobody innocent is hurt, plus patrols should be voluntary. In no way are the patrols criticised. Discussions around previous attacks/leaving property is irrelevant, we will be pick like flies until we demand for the SAPS to help us.
ag shame kom ons almal sit in n hoekie en huil of kom ons kyk maar hoe die ander mense om ons seer kry want dis mos wat hy (Dean) wil he of ons kan vir die SAPS wag.ASB !!!julle doen wat hy se hy weet mos alles.
Dean wanted my sollution. So here it is. Dean, why don’t you quit your day job and join the SAPS? Or did they turn you down:(
Amanda stop showing the type of person you are. Some of us want to sort out the problem and not be the problem…
storm. im glad you realise im a BITCH!
Actually I don’t think you can comprehend what everyone is saying.
You are not worth it….grow a pair. Both of you…….like I said before. Have a nice life:)))
I have email Col. Van Rooyen if I don’t hear anything by Thursday, I will rattle some cages at SAPS and contact Andy (the chairperson at the last meeting) to find out what the police have been doing? Now that is what Dean and myself will be doing.
Hi Amanda, your comments are distasteful to the people that have been attacked in their homes.
Leon or Monty I have lost your numbers can you please urgently send it to me on 078 383 3068.
Please Dean and Storm dont use my name and Bianca’s name if you assume things.We definate dont sit around the same fire.
Update: The Helderkriun Hills Residents Association (HHRA) is working closely with the SAPS. Thank you to those involved. Residents of Helderkruin Hill, please find out how you can make a difference in supporting your local resident association. All your support is needed. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/helderkruinhillcommunity & https://www.hhra.co.za
Update: The Helderkriun Hills Residents Association (HHRA) is working closely with the SAPS. Thank you to those involved. Residents of Helderkruin Hill, please find out how you can make a difference in supporting your local resident association. All your support is needed.