Ever since the installation of a fence along Woodlands Drive, Richwood, there has been some success.
This is the opinion of Glenn Marais, chair of the Richwood Neighbourhood Watch, who told TygerBurger last week that the fence has made the life of some criminals a bit more difficult.
A suspect was arrested recently after he attempted to steal from a house.
He ran, but when he got to Woodlands Drive, he had a fence that prevented easy escape, explains Marais.
“He did try jumping about five times but by then the armed response officers from Precinct Response and Swart Security were right by him and he was detained. Usually it was an easy getaway. Not on that occasion.”
The fence, of about 800 metres after its completion, also runs along the N7 highway.
“I have also noticed the decline in wheelie bin and drain cover theft because they now need to go to the bottom of Woodlands Drive and Morris Shell Drive to exit. Our dedicated armed response usually park there so going past them is risky. When the fence is complete it is going to be very difficult to get large items out of Richwood,” Marais explains further.
He says as a community and a neighbourhood watch they need to thank Cheryl Visser, the former ward councillor, and current ward councillor, Helen Carstens, for ensuring that the fence project is almost finished.
“Only the gates need to be installed. Apparently the service gates will be locked and only the essential responsible people will have keys. The turnstile will always be functional.
“I am sure our crime will decrease so it is important that we all monitor the fence for any destruction, theft or vandalism. We do not need easy escape holes in the fence. Our neighbourhood watch patrollers will also do regular checks on the fence,” Marais says.
He says as far back as five years ago when he became chairperson of the neighbourhood watch many of the residents asked about the fence, and what can be done about it as crime was increasing, and escaping over the Woodlands Drive field made an easy getaway for criminals.
Marais has been serving as chair since January 2017.
“When Cheryl Visser became our councillor things really changed for the better for Richwood. The two of us discussed the fence on many occasions as it was becoming a very serious topic. A year before the election she told me she had good news regarding the fence. Council agreed to source funds for the installation of it. It would not be a wall but a clear view fence which we agreed upon.
“We also agreed that we could not shut down the foot traffic from Dunoon as this could lead to protests directed at Richwood and that vandalising of the fence could take place, so a turnstile gate would be ideal. Late last year the fence project started and now it is almost complete,” says Marais.
In March this year TygerBurger reported on the project which is facilitated through the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme and funded by community services and health. The project costs about R2,2 million.
The first part of the construction included 500 metres of fence, while the second part included the construction of the remaining 300 metres.
