Theft from and of motor vehicles has emerged as Brackenfell’s most pressing crime concern in the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 reporting period, with the latest statistics revealing a troubling 60% increase.

Figures recently released by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirm that 88 incidents of theft from motor vehicles and 15 vehicle thefts were recorded in the suburb between January and March of this year.

Norman Landry, chair of the Brackenfell Community Police Forum (CPF), characterised the figures as concerning, while noting the inherent complexity of addressing the problem.

“We cannot pinpoint specific hotspot areas, as the crime occurs throughout the suburb, at shopping centres and at private residences alike,” he said. Landry attributed much of the theft to opportunistic criminal behaviour, enabled by the carelessness of vehicle owners.

“We continue to observe instances where laptops and other valuables are left on rear seats and tools are left overnight in the backs of bakkies, thereby creating the very opportunity a lurking criminal requires,” he remarked.

In response, the CPF has conducted a series of public awareness campaigns at local shopping centres in recent months, aimed at encouraging greater vigilance among residents.

Home burglaries on a downward trend

In other property-related crime, 36 residential burglaries and nine business burglaries were recorded during the same three-month period. Despite this, there is cause for measured optimism as home burglaries have declined by nearly 50% over four years, falling from 67 incidents in the corresponding period of 2022, a trend Landry attributed to sustained community and stakeholder involvement in crime prevention efforts.

Contact crime in Brackenfell recorded a notable improvement, declining by 27% in the reporting period to a total of 70 cases. Common assault accounted for the majority, with 37 incidents logged, while 11 cases of assault with grievous bodily harm were reported.

Six sexual offences were reported, and encouragingly, no murders or attempted murders were reported in the suburb during this period. Six common robberies and ten aggravated robberies were also noted.

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In the category of crimes detected through proactive police action, 13 drug-related arrests were made alongside 25 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. Landry was careful to observe that responsibility for traffic law enforcement rests, in the main, with the traffic department.

Drunk driving is a genuine and serious problem on our roads, one that demands urgent and decisive attention.

He expressed concern that traffic law enforcement on Brackenfell’s roads remains insufficient to adequately address the latter. “When one examines the number of drunk driving arrests, it becomes evident that it falls short of what is required. Drunk driving is a genuine and serious problem on our roads, one that demands urgent and decisive attention,” he said.

Landry further noted that active operations are presently underway within the suburb to address and curb drug-related criminal activity. “We are encouraged by the progress being made, and we remain committed to working alongside all relevant stakeholders to make Brackenfell a safer place for every resident,” Landry concluded.