New security in Forest Hill

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – After watching their neighbourhood turn into a crime zone, five men and a local priest put their heads together and become community patrollers.

These Forest Hill men got tired of criminals stealing cables, vehicles, and breaking into people’s houses and formed a group of patrollers, Stanford and Co, that watches over certain streets such as Stanford Street, Koll Street and Holt Street.

Since they started cycling around the streets towards the end of the year, the streets they patrol have become quiet. But they not only deal with the criminals and drug dealers, they also catch the learners who skip school and take them to their principals as they patrol close to two schools.

Romeo Williams and Laurent Kabamba are members of the patrolling team, family men who live with their wives and children and hope to see more community members join in to help the unit grow and help SAPS clamp down on crime in the area.

They watch over the neighbourhood day and night and are hoping to receive more support, and necessary equipment such as torches, bicycles or bikes, and training from anyone who can help.

“We want people to know that if more and more people could join us in the fight against crime, we can all protect the people we care about. We know the drug dealers and with the help of SAPS, DA, ANC and the community, we can protect our children,” said Romeo.

Interested residents are welcome to make contact with Romeo 074 702 9611 and Laurent 072 143 1984, they also fight illegal dumping.

“As the SAPS cannot fight crime alone, community patrollers are the eyes and ears of the community, but report to the SAPS and often work on operations with the police members. The community is asked that when they see criminal activities to report it to the SAPS.

People wishing to become a community patrollers must contact Booysens SAPS and speak to Colonel Lloyd or WO van Emmerik.