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Residents voiced their concerns over the soaring crime rates and a number of crime-related incidents plaguing Table View and surrounding areas at a Police Community Imbizo last Thursday evening.
Fueled by a shared sense of urgency, Table View residents are demanding action from local police.
“We never had such high crime numbers in the Table View area. Something needs to be done,” said resident, Herman Jooste.
Last week, the Table View Community Police Forum (CPF), together with the station commander Col Tjikamba Markus Mbangu, met with angry residents at a community meeting. Residents are calling for more resources from the police, the City and other law enforcement agencies.
The community meeting followed a litany of crimes in recent weeks, which include murder and attempted murder during a home invasion, the death of a nurse, a woman stabbed 20 times by robbers, a romance scam ring leader being nabbed and a string of robberies.
In February, TygerBurger spoke to a fraud investigator at the Table View Police Station who pointed out they receive about 10 to 20 fraud dockets per day (depending on the time of the month) from incidents within the precinct, Milnerton and surrounding areas.
The top two fraud incidents are animal- and investment fraud, Sgt Warda Christians, a fraud investigator at the Table View Police Station, pointed out.
Community Imbizo
Police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk confirmed that residents had met with top officials last Thursday.
“Kindly be advised that the mentioned station commander held a Community Imbizo in Table View with all role-players. The purpose of the Imbizo was to strengthen the relationship between the community and police officers.
“The community members were encouraged to report criminal activities. The police will continue with stop and search, vehicle check points (VCP), identify drug outlets and awareness campaigns etc.”
A resident staying in Parklands, Beatrice Farmer, says crime in this area, is spiralling out of control.
“From drugs lords to prostitution are on the rise here. And officials are simply turning a blind eye,” she says.
Farmer told TygerBurger that she has to live like a prisoner in her own home after an attempted robbery last month.
“I installed everything under the sun to protect myself and my children in my home. It is a nightmare living so caged up,” she says.
Another resident said police should be patrolling these hot spots every hour. “More police visibility is required.”
Past incidents
Last week, TygerBurger reported about a home invasion where four intruders entered the property in Cabernet Road, Table View, through an unlocked front door, demanding jewellery and cash. The men tied the family members up and ransacked the house, taking jewellery, liquor, bank cards and cellphones before fleeing.
Capt Adriana Chandler, spokesperson for the Table View Police Station, says the swift reaction by armed response companies in the Table View precinct led to the arrest of two suspects.
TygerBurger reported about the increase in house robberies in Table View over the past few weeks (“House robberies spike in Table View”, 10 April) and (“Woman found murdered in Parklands home”, 3 April).
One of the incidents took place at a complex in North Road in Table View during the evening of 3 April. The suspect gained access to the property through an open bathroom window, while the victim was asleep.
In a separate incident, a 53-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Langley Crescent, Parklands, in what appears to have been a robbery. Her house was ransacked and her car stolen.
Col Mbangu said the community should remain vigilant and shared the following tips:
- Make sure that doors are locked, and all windows closed, even when at home.
- Activate your alarm system, if you have one.
- Switch on outer lights when going to sleep or invest in motion detection lights.
- Join your local neighbourhood watch.
