The release of the quarterly crime statistics substantiates the findings of Stats SA that break-ins at residential areas are alarmingly high. According to the results published by Stats SA, households thought that housebreaking or burglary and home robbery were the most common and most feared.
Residents have reason to be afraid because on home ground eMalahleni took first place on the podium in the ‘burglary at residential premises’ division.
Out of 10 precincts eMalahleni leads the pack with 1 551 reported cases.
In second place is Honeydew with 1 530 cases and Plessislaer in KwaZulu Natal in third place with 1 402 reported cases.
Over this past weekend alone four house break-ins were reported.
The break-in spree started with Mr Moses Kgafela who reported that all his water pipes were stolen somewhere between February 28 and March 2. He stays in Ext 10.
“Everything seemed to be in order when I returned home. My doors were still locked and my windows closed. But then I noticed my roof was removed.”
Mr Tshepo Bapela’s collection of Russell Hobbs kitchenware is now also listed amongst stolen property.
Bapela stays in Dixon Street. A call from the security at the complex where he resides turned his day upside down on March 2. The door was forced open and thieves got away with the kitchenware and some of his clothes and shoes.
Two more residents made their way to the police station, one to report a break-in and one to report an attempted break-in.
The resident from Cleopatra Street in Die Heuwel, who is kept anonymous because he was not available for comment, has vigilant neighbours who phoned him when they saw two unknown men in his yard.
According to Capt Eddie Hall, police spokesperson, the man rushed home and found his door forced open. The thieves fled with a plasma television, grinder and clipper to the value of R5 900.
A homeowner from Reyno Ridge had it lucky this time as thieves tried to break-in but because of his dogs barking and his quick reaction the thieves did not get far.
“The thieves took one of the windows out of its hinges and moved the blinds. My little dogs scared them off with their continuing barking,” the man said.
The man said he has all the security measures in place to scare thieves off, but not even that could keep them away.
When it comes to burglaries at non-residential premises, Middleburg has four more reported cases than eMalahleni in sixth place. Middelburg has 524 reported cases with eMalahleni trailing at 520 cases.
The municipal area also features amongst the top three in the robbery at non-residential areas with Vosman Police Station who has 141 cases to investigate.
Truck hijackings are letting alarm bells go off when a closer look is taken at the figures that shows that Ogies is fourth on the list with 31 truck hijackings and eMalahleni in tenth position with 20 truck hijackings.
Following the release of the quarterly crime statistics by the Minister of Police, Mr Nkosinathi Nhleko and the Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane, for the period April 1 to December 31, a two day strategic session is currently underway in Mpumalanga to devise plans to build safer communities.
The two day strategic session will look at, amongst others, unpacking the crime statistics presented to the Portfolio Committee on Police in Parliament; identifying crime trends and patterns and also exploring strategies and best practices on how to combat crime in the country.
The overall crime statistics bear testament to the fact that police are recording significant strides in the fight against crime. This taking into cognizance the recorded decrease in crime levels across all the 17 community-reported serious crimes. However, a considerable concerted effort is still needed to ensure there is a further reduction of crime in South Africa.
Topping the agenda will be amongst others: The proliferation of firearms, the reduction of sexual offences and the escalating levels of crimes that are commonly known as the ‘trio crimes’ in particular robbery with aggravating circumstances which include carjacking, house and business robbery.
“This is not the time to celebrate, we are using this opportunity to go back to the drawing board and see how best we can enhance service delivery to our communities,” said Lieutenant General Phahlane.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/71260/industrial-crescent-burglary-and-the-police-response/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/16300/eleven-computers-stolen-in-school-break-in/
