Although crime was said to have decreased over the past month, Cape Town Central police are concerned about burglary in Vredehoek and Oranjezicht, and robberies continue to be an issue in the precinct.
This was reported at the last community-police forum (CPF) meeting, which took place on Thursday August 3, at the Akker Hall at Cape Town Central police station in Buitenkant Street.
Brigadier Marius Stander, said the police have had meetings with security companies operating in the residential areas to see how they can better address the spike in burglaries.
He said because of big events in the CBD such as the Netball World Cup, which took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last week, complete with the Fan Park in Lower Long Street, security authorities, including police, are being diverted to ensure the safety of visitors. “Because we need to attend to these, it does not mean crime stops in other areas. We are working closely with our partners, and our crime is still decreasing, which is good news.”
Ward councillor for the city centre, Ian MacMohan, added that there were reports of robberies where suspects jump out of cars and grab people’s belongings.
City Central Improvement Distict (CCID) assistant security manager, Alec van de Rheede, also expressed concern with suspects driving around and snatching mostly cellphones, especially around the club strips in the early hours of the morning.
Brigadier Stander said while there were reports with these patterns, it was a small percentage of robberies, most of which are just snatching cellphones, or threatening with a knife or sharp object.
He added that police were focusing on stop-and-searches, as well as confiscation of dangerous weapons and house break-in implements as a preventative measure.
CPF chair, Marc Truss, encouraged the community to get involved and become the eyes and ears for the police, and to constantly report crime.
In District Six, neighbourhood watch member Ighsaan Alexander asked for police visibility in Tennant and Hanover streets, where dealing in drugs and drug usage from the informal structures have become worrying, especially with school pupils passing in the mornings.
Brigadier Stander said the police were aware of the issue with the informal structures, where crime seems to be spilling over to Roeland Street as a result. He urged the community to work with the police to help deal with the situation.
The CPF meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Akker Hall at the Cape Town Central police station in Buitenkant Street. The meeting starts at 8am and is an open meeting.
For any issues or more information about the CPF, email info@gpokcid.co.za
