Crime increased when the Epping Market group was shut down and removed late last year.
This is according to resident Maryanne Jordaan from Thornton, saying that criminals and drug addicts are hiding behind a wall alongside the road by Epping Market, which was built when the Epping Market group was removed.
It is alleged that criminals hide by the bridge and the walkway through the canal to Pinelands. Jordaan says criminals take that route to get away with crime, “because access is easy, and they use the canal and Jewish Cemetery to run away. We have asked for security full time on the canal, as criminals are targeting the development a stone’s throw away from us,” Jordaan says.
A member of the Seemeeu and Canalside security team says a vagrant staying on the canal was also raped there at gunpoint.
According to Jordaan, this is a result of the Epping Market group of people they removed, “but then built a wall, so the criminals can hide.”
Jordaan pleaded with the community not to give anything to the guys with the horse and carts; “today (11 October) we witnessed them stealing from the Conradie development”.
Not the first time
“This is not the first time that this happened,” Jordaan says.
She says the neighbourhood watch saw them at the gates – “they come onto the canal gate, jump the small fence over into Conradie development and steal. They have also stolen furniture and other things from residents,” Jordaan says.
“In the community they also have a group of three guys who walk the streets in the morning, afternoon and other times, threatening people, robbing and mugging them.”
Jordaan’s husband, who is part of the Seemeeu and Canalside security team, caught a guy stealing last week, but the developers do not want to press charges.
Jordaan adds: “We need to stand together in Thornton, we need zero tolerance to crime.”
