Crime and Grime update

Update on community matters:

Security:

a)     Residential burglaries – we are pleased to be able to say that there has been a dramatic drop in residential burglaries in the past three weeks.  After going through a rather rough patch with residential burglaries averaging at around 5 – 6 per week in the entire Sunninghill, we have now seen a drop to an average over the past three weeks to between 1 and 2 per week in the entire suburb.  A special thanks to Savika Armed Response who increased their patrols in hotspot areas, this definitely seems to have worked.

b)     Smash and grabs – these unfortunately have now increased substantially.  The hotspot for these as has been in the past is on the corner of Maxwell and Witkoppen roads.  The criminals seem to alternate there times making it difficult for the saps and Savika to catch them.  The most common times are between 06h00 and 8h00 and 18h00 and 19h30.  At present the smash and grabs are averaging at between 4 and 5 per week.  The cars targeted are those entering Sunninghill driving west and the victims seem to be the 4^th of 5^th vehicle in the left or middle lane, stopping at the traffic light.  These smash and grabs will be discussed at length in our security meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning.

c)     Crime stats – due to the world cup soccer our weekly meetings with the saps have been cancelled between the 11^th of June and the 11^th of July.  Sunninghill Community Security will however be continuing to hold its weekly crime analysis and crime prevention meetings.  We would like to appeal to all residents, businesses and security companies to report to us via our webpage www.sunninghillnews.co.za – report a crime tab -all incidents of crime during this time as we will not be receiving crime statistics from the saps.  For our crime prevention operations to continue efficiently it is important for us to receive this information.  Those of you who use other security companies (not Savika), please encourage them to report crime to us.  They should always be doing this – the only security company that at present does this is Savika.

d)     Eskom strike – as you are all aware there was an unprotected Eskom strike outside of Megawatt Park last week.  Although there were a very large number of strikers the protest was without incident.  Sunninghill Community would like to thank Eskom for keeping us “in the loop” with regards to developments before and during the strike, affording us the opportunity to put in plans to protect our area should it have been necessary.  Special thanks to the saps, metro who handled the situation very professionally and for the assistance of Savika Armed Response and the Sunninghill Communities Chief traffic warden, Jerry Tom who directed traffic when necessary and kept a watchful eye to ensure there were no problems.  A community working together!!.

Grime:

a)     Monthly litter campaign – Good news – Builders Warehouse has notified us that they will as of this month sponsor casuals to pick up litter in Sunninghill every second month.  The idea was that this would supplement Plover Realty who have kindly offered to sponsor the other month, allowing us to make this a monthly cleanup operation.    

8 days to go — keep those flags flying high.