SECTOR 1 MEETING HELD at the BARN CHURCH MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2014 at 19H00

SECTOR 1 MEETING HELD AT THE BARN CHURCH MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2014 AT 19h00.

1.  NOTICE OF MEETING:

Notice of the meeting was given at the previous meeting and was sent out by way of e-mail.

2.  APOLOGIES AND WELCOME:

Apologies: Pieter Klerk – RPRCPA.

Welcome to: Nicholas Zaal – Randburg Sun Journalist

AJ Jansen – Bromhof / Anne Pau & J Bubb – Northwold / Glynis – Sonneglans (Castello)

Ralf Bittkau & Linus Muller (DA Councillors)

Meeting commenced at 19.00. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting & thanked everyone for the great turn out.

3.  CRIME OVERVIEW:

It was decided by the people present that although the percentages will be given from time to time regarding the crime it would be better to just give an overview, especially the problematic crimes.

Our Sector manager provided the crime brief for January 2014:

Street robberies are on the increase:

Corner Olievenhout & Drysdale Rd

Hunters Park, Golden Harvest

Malibongwe

Rabie Street Randpark Ridge and Linden side

Also around Randpark High School – before and after school. There was an attempted robbery today.

To address the above, the police are planning regular undercover surveillance on a continuous basis.

There have been numerous complaints regarding the vagrants under the bridge in Rabie. They are no longer there at night. W/O Nonyane says that he thinks the robberies are being committed by people coming into the area.

Sundowner housebreakings on the increase – the vagrants on Taurus Road observe the residents and the comings and goings in the area. The stolen goods are found in Zandspruit and sold there – therefore most suspects come from Zandspruit. The item that is mostly stolen now is jewellery as there is a market for it and there is a dealer in Zandspruit. A flat screen from a break in in Sundowner was recovered in Zandspruit. Another suspect from Zandspruit was found in the possession of a female’s ID. Another suspect was arrested with dangerous weapons.

W/O Nonyane encouraged the community to report crime, as this is the only way the SAPS can identify problematic crimes and areas. He said that domestics can also be recruited by the criminals.

Northwold – Break ins are also on the increase.

Hi Jackings throughout Sector 1 are on the decrease.

The Warrant Office warned residents to be extra vigilant and alert when entering and exiting their properties.

The house breakings during the day are organised, where front gates are breached and they go through the main security gate and break down the front door. When the house alarm goes off they know they only have time to remove the TV (flat screens are highly sought after).

The trend at present where access is gained to a home in the early evening and it then becomes a house robbery – the suspects also accost people in their driveway and take the cell phones and handbag and if they know no one is at home they take you in to rob from the house. Please war your residents.

* Robbery – People present at time of entry

* Burglary – No people present at time of entry

Pro Active Ops

SAPS continue requesting assistance from security companies in terms of doing raids and investigation of areas of concern. It is understood that security companies focus on clients as their top priorities, however if there is an option to offer up 2-3hrs of their time to aid in terms of man power.

·  There have been vagrant operations where there have been many arrests. W/O Nonyane said that in some instances the vagrants have said they have been brought to the area by other police stations. Allan Baudry said that if the vagrant is an S.A. citizen they are now taken to Hillbrow the Destitute People for processing and an SAP14 is registered. If they are illegal they are sent to Lindela for deportation. Linus asked for the stats from the Special Ops.

·  There are 2 sectors at a time for cleanup operations at separate times. This is ongoing.

·  The sector has 2 vehicles that patrol and many of the security companies join up with them which assists the police to a great extent.

·  Warning again about car jammers on the increase in Clearwater Mall.

·  The Warrant Officer has also stressed that residents must be on high alert at all times, to always be vigilant. House alarms should be on and security gates locked. Do not give the criminals an opportunity for you to be their next target.

·  Residents should report suspicious vehicles, take as much detail down as possible to assist the police.

·  Shift change at the police station is being looked into as this seems to be a huge problem as it takes up much of important policing time – there was no feedback regarding this at this stage.

·  Warrant Officer is quite prepared to assist with working late.

FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS:

Duiker Ridge (DRRA) (Melita & Karen) – Robbery at 6 Impala 27th November 2103. The black church taking residence in the vlei – they have moved. There are drug dealings taking place on a regular basis. Their Whatsapp group is working well.

Sherwell Estates (Graham and Bev) – No information given.

Sundowner (Pat) - Dec & Jan have been quiet. The incident in Denne was outside the boomed area.

RPRCPA (Carmel) – No incidents since they have a new security company at booms.

Sonneglans (Claudia) – 1 attempted break in (Dec) / January all quiet / 1 murder in Feb. Greg said this appeared to be a street robbery.

Sonneglans / Castello (President Fouche) – Have a problem with the domestics going through the greenbelt.

San Marco (Roger) – All quiet

RRVA (Greg) – Street robberies. House break ins but arrests have been made regarding these.

BEAR (Roger) – All quiet.

Boskruin Gardens (Phil) – All quiet.

Ridge Estate (Bryan McKay) – All quiet.

Boskruin Ext 5 (Don King) – Had a break in in Sylvan December 2013. Thought may emanate from the other side of the koppie.

BRACA (Andre or Leigh) – 1 armed robbery (9am) where they accosted the gardener 24.01.14. Polo Vivo stolen / parked on the verge outside the complex 02.02.14.

Northwold Gardens (Debbie) – All quiet. Building in the area very active.

Northriding AH (Neil & Chris) – In December there were problems with extremely loud music from the Shebeens. Security guard in Valley Road was beaten. There has been killing of livestock in the area. There is a 2nd hand car dealer cnr. Aureole and Boundary. Carmel asked Neil to e-mail details so she can forward to Col. Botha.

Bank Road # 23 (Julia) – Was quieter after the arrest of tenant who has subsequently been released.

Northwold (Arthur) - All quiet except for the work that is taking place on the street (pipe laying) for the last 10 days. There are between 20 and 30 workers on site.

Strelitzia Garden Village (Desmond) – All quiet.

Shiante (Steve Moller) – All quiet except for the ongoing problem of the vagrants behind the garage and roadside trading and drinking being done. JMPD did one call. Has requested that perhaps the police get more involved on a more regular basis and perhaps these guys will then move.

Quinta do Lago (Roy O’Connor) – All quiet.

Graceland (Leigh Potgieter) – All quiet. Their guards are escorting domestics when walking through the greenbelts when coming and leaving Graceland which has helped. Still have a huge problem with vagrants on the cnr. President Fouche and Third Street. Their guards are now in contact with the guards at the old age home.

Skyros Bromhof (Claudia) – All quiet.

Banbury Gardens (Donald Neville) – No report.

Nicola Tait (Glen Eagles and Northwold) – Still having huge problems with Banbury Centre. Drugs, noise and additional traffic are causing problems. Now there is World Betting a gambling centre that has opened. They have asked the SAPS to monitor. Objections have been signed and submitted. Assistance required from the undercover guys dealing with the drugs.

4.  FEEDBACK – SECURITY SERVICES/COUNCILLORS/PARTIES/JOURNALISTS:

Feedback from Ward Councillors: Linus & Ralf

Linus brought up the new road closure policy which has been approved. Have to have boomed access – no card system or intercoms – the booms have to be manned. Also have to have pedestrian access. The application has to be 100% compliant. The closures must be crime related and not due to traffic problems. Procedures will be advertised shortly.

Draft Rates Policy: Complaints of properties being used other than for residential purposes must be reported – new rates (4 times the norm) will then be implemented. Desmond asked if this was investigated as you may have a vindictive neighbour who lodges a complaint and you then end up with a massive bill. Linus said every complaint will need to be investigated.

Ralf – Has requested police SAPS & JMPD to assist and show more presence at the Old Nursery which has a lot of illegal immigrants as well as Golden Harvest Park – the 5 or 6 houses have between 20 and 30 people living there. The houses belong to Joburg Property Company. There is also a problem at the Old nursery school cnr. Malibongwe and Pres. Fouche where the vagrants living there gain access to Sonneglans.

Ralf said that Sgt. Mohlabane is willing to help. W/o Nonyane said that he is invited to this meeting.

Ralf also suggested joint clean-up operations to be implemented with residents and him. Greg suggested in return that the operations done in conjunction with SAPS, Dog Unit, City Parks and JMPD.

Ralf said with the drug dealing it is the runners that are arrested and that we need to get the big guys. They have found sachets of “coke “under the shrubs in Golden Harvest Park. Greg said we need to keep the e-mails coming through with registrations etc. In complexes watch out for the hours that tenants keep.

He would also like to have a separate parallel meeting with Residents Associations who fall in his Ward (including Olivedale, Jukskei Park) with the view to assisting new R.A.’s with startup, networking and addressing residents association related issues etc. This will not be crime focused but rather other issues.

Ralf said that at present City Parks are stretched. In some instances a Works Order from the Dept. of Environment need to be obtained and Ralf has taken this up with the MMC in Region C.

Brought forward from last month and ongoing:

·  Corner of Pres. Fouche and CR Swart – diagonally across both sides; issues with regards to vagrants.

·  Corner of Malibongwe & President Fouche – both sides – the old nursery school and below and around total Garage.

Dowry (Harm) Apologies

Trojan Security (Dirk Botha) 4 incidents : 1 Attempted. Of the 3 incidents – 2 alarms were not armed!!

Londoloza (Allan Baudry) All quiet except for incident in Denne Street. Cars which are stolen with house keys in them have someone arriving at the address saying there has been an alarm activation – not sure if it is a trend for breaking into houses.

5.  GENERAL:

CPF FEED BACK - Roger gave a report back;

·  Hot Spots : Northriding and Randpark Ridge. Theft of motor vehicles / theft out of motor vehicles / robberies which include street robberies.

·  There has been a special operation in conjunction with PSIRA where 36 illegal car guards were arrested

·  Car jamming still going on in undercover parkings (Clearwater and Northgate) yet people still leave laptops and valuable items visible. 20 laptops were stolen in this way.

·  Head of the Reservists W/O Swanepoel has resigned.

·  High Risk Vehicles : Toyota / Toyota Hilux Bakkies / VW Polo

·  Burglaries and Robberies : Risk times : Weds to Fridays especially Thursdays from 4:00 – 5:00 & 8:00 – 12:00

·  Number plate thefts on the rise. (Could be because of E Toll)

·  The CPF is discussing a plan for the year ahead to sort problems out as a project for the year – this will be done 1st week in March. Sector 1 was asked to send problems, thoughts etc. via e-mail either to Greg or Carmel.

General

·  Reminder to phone Honeydew Ops Room (011-801-8613/14/15) and not the Flying Squad number (10111) in case of an emergency

·  011 375 5911 – JPMD emergency no. – Bylaw infringements and for fire brigade response

·  When it is seen that illegal housing i.e. shacks are being put up, one has 24hrs to report to obtain immediate action.

·  Warning that when one goes to the banks and draw large amounts of money, always be vigilant on the way home and ensure that you are not being followed.

·  COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THE SECTOR TO BE HELD AT ? BOSKRUIN COMMUNITY CENTRE (Still to be confirmed) for residents from the sector to attend with SAPS to discuss crime related issues and a way forward for communities and SAPS to work together. THE DATE IS STILL TO BE CONFIRMED AND WILL BE ADVERTISED.

·  Complaint made regarding the incident in Denne Street (off Puttick) – took the police 1hr 40 minutes to respond to an armed robbery. Gun was stolen. This incident occurred at around 10am. The matter has been taken up with Colonel Terblanche.