The latest crime statistics released on Friday indicates that property related crime in Brackenfell has seen an overall decrease of 7%.
These statistics reflect crimes committed in the suburb between April and June this year.
At the lowest it has been in a decade or more, only seven cases of business burglaries were reported during this time, compared to last year’s 27 cases, showing a 74% decrease.
This, according to visible policing head Lt Col Jacobs, can mainly be attributed to the roll-out of CCTV cameras to the industrial areas of Brackenfell by local security companies.
“It has greatly deterred criminals. The minute any suspect movement is detected on a camera, security personnel is dispatched to investigate. In this way the movement of criminals into the areas are monitored around the clock,” he says.
Showing a decrease of 5%, 72 cases of home burglaries were reported.
Car theft has increased with 85% with 37 vehicles reported stolen, while theft out of motor vehicles decreased 7% with 68 reported cases. Four cars were hijacked, three more than in the previous year.
“Motor theft and hijacking increases I suspect can be linked to the black market demand for certain types of vehicles, in this case being Volkswagen, Toyota and Kia pick-up trucks. The value of the stolen vehicles comes to R3 589 500,” he says.
An increased of 12% was also reflected in the number of commercial crimes reported in Brackenfell, being 123 cases.
“The greater majority of the 123 cases reported are fraud linked with social media and online sales, where people are defrauded from their money or goods. Cases like this are reported almost on a daily basis,” says Jacobs.
The number of robberies in the suburb remained somewhat stable compared to the same period in the previous year with four house robberies and five business robberies.
Of crimes detected as a result of police action, a total of 37 persons were charged with driving under the influence, and 19 for drug related crimes.
