AFTER a number of poorly attended Community Policing Forum (CPF) meetings, the Empangeni Civic Centre Conference room was packed to capacity with residents ready to bust crime.
Fed up with the rise in house robberies, Tuesday night had residents come out in hoards to voice their concerns and suggest effective solutions.
Businessman and Eland Crescent home owner Derek Moore has had his home burgled four times in six years.
‘Home owners in our street have formulated a group on the social chat application, Whatsapp, in which 85% of our street residents are part of,’ said Moore.
‘The point is to be a good neighbour. In three weeks of running this chat group, we have interfered in six attempted robberies. We are not armed, we are showing people that we care and in crisis situations, we will be there in numbers.
‘There is a revival of community spirit which has been lacking for some time. We should be looking out for each other. It gives us peace of mind going to bed at night knowing that we have 20 neighbours who have got our backs,’ said Moore.
‘We have also asked our individual security companies to do additional patrols and in the end, we have five different companies doing frequent patrolling apart from the patrols of the SAPS.’
Another resident added that when buying valuable items like televisions, it is important to destroy the box before it is disposed of as it attracts the attention of the people who dig in the bins which could possibly be criminals eyeing your home.
‘The excellent attendance at the CPF was a clear indication that the Empangeni community are prepared to claim back what is rightfully theirs – a crime free environment,’ said CPF Chairperson Zilindile Masango.
‘I have no doubt we will win the fight against crime if our community continues to attend the information sharing meetings. Furthermore, formation of street committees adopted as one of the most efficient crime fighting strategies, will surely help in eliminating crime.
‘It is humbling to see such commitment from the community,’ said Masango.
Very interest mind tinking keep it up! Bt the community must stop buying stolen goods “they wil be no seller if therez no buyer”