Residents in Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen and surrounds have been urged to be vigilant when at home at night, following a rise in burglaries and housebreaking incidents.
Deon Oosthuizen, vice-chair of the Monte Vista Plattekloof Glen Neighbourhood Watch, told TygerBurger last week that their organisation, along with several other neighbourhood watches, are working closely together to address the issue.
Oosthuizen was approached for comment after he was quoted in a daily newspaper saying they suspect that a syndicate who breaks into homes by removing aluminium windows are operating in the area. He was quoted after a family in Monte Vista came under attack by armed robbers at their house in Buitendag Street two weeks ago.
Oosthuizen said since it appears that a syndicate may be operating in the area, their organisation along with several neighbourhood watches have been actively collaborating to monitor and collect data on this recent spate of home invasions, housebreakings and burglaries.
“Our findings strongly suggest the presence of an organised syndicate operating across various residential communities.
“Our collected intelligence indicated a consistent modus operandi where perpetrators specifically target residential areas, removing windows to gain entry.
“This pattern is not isolated to our immediate vicinity, as we have observed similar incidents as far afield as Hout Bay.
“These groups appear brazen and undeterred, often jumping from wall to wall when pursued and actively ‘testing’ home defence systems. If they fail to gain entry at one house, they simply move on to the next, usually just a few houses away.
“This persistence and coordinated approach point to a level of organisation beyond opportunistic crime,” says Oosthuizen.
He adds that the community is understandably fed-up with the escalating crime. “In response, our neighbourhood watches are actively working to increase visibility, particularly during the early hours of the morning which seems to be prime time for these incidents.”
Engaging with police
Their neighbourhood watch has also engaged with the Goodwood police, under whose jurisdiction Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen fall. Oosthuizen says the police have been very supportive.
“However, the reality remains that the police, like many other stations, is critically under-resourced. While the recent announcement of 10 new officers for Bothasig police is fantastic news, it also starkly highlights the severe understaffing that these stations have been operating under,” Oosthuizen says.
“We are operating with limited resources and time, as all our members are volunteers who also balance work and family commitments. Without a significant allocation of resources to address the current crime trend, it is unlikely that we will see a substantial decrease in these incidents anytime soon.”
He says the best they can do for now, is to make their communities less appealing targets and to support their neighbouring communities until these criminals make a mistake and are apprehended.
“We are fortunate to have strong relationships with several armed response companies who provide immediate assistance when needed. However, the success of our effort hinges on a collective community effort.”
Residents are therefore being urged to report all crime, including attempted break-ins, and to share as much detail as possible.
“This crucial information allows us to monitor incidents, identify crime trends and determine if they are indeed linked to a syndicate or an opportunistic criminal,” says Oosthuizen.
“Residents are also urged to enhance their home security system, to make it more difficult for intruders to jump walls, ideally forcing them back onto the street where patrollers or armed response companies can spot them.
“By working together, and sharing information, we can make our communities more resilient and create an environment where these criminals find it increasingly difficult to operate,” Oosthuizen concludes.
