The Eldorado Park Extension Three Street Committee met on January 23 and was well attended by residents eager to put a stop to the rising burglaries affecting Alberta, Kamassie and Kiepersol Streets.
These streets seem to have made easy pickings for burglars who have literally been cleaning house and walked away with valuables taken from three homes in just as many days.
Street committee chairperson, Donovan Williams and other residents gathered to discuss why these streets have been targeted and what measures can be implemented to ensure the safety of residents from thugs bent on wreaking havoc by defiling the sanctity of homes in the community.
Dimly lit streets and street lights which are not in working order provide ideal cover for thugs who can make a quick getaway in the darkness after mugging innocent victims.
Their loot is carted away and a family left without their hard-earned possessions which are sold way below the asking price. There are a number of things which breed criminality of this nature, chief among them is the poverty which has visited many communities.
This, coupled with the widespread drug use and flagrant disregard for the safety of others has had the committee calling on residents to be more aware of who frequents these streets and any other suspicious activity taking place.
The ubiquitous ‘Somali’ spaza shops have become the gathering place for the youth and other undesirable elements and these shops are open until late.
Williams suggested that a curfew be placed on their trading hours in the hope that this would curb the traffic at these odd hours and deter youngsters from hanging out and consuming cigarettes and dagga on these premises.
Williams said, “In 2018 we are taking back the streets. Crime must fall and we are saying, ‘No!’ to drugs.
“A culmination of events has led to people being afraid. We are in the majority and they are in the minority, if we form an organised structure, we will win the battle against crime.”
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He continued, “We are the eyes and ears of the police and we must operate interdependently of one another. Step by step, we will take over Extension Three.”
Williams urged residents to make use of technologies like the WhatsApp chat facility to keep each other in the loop and to report suspicious behaviour.
The Eldorado Park Community Policing Forum chairperson, Abram Pedro was at the meeting to show solidarity with residents who have clearly had enough.
