Summer Greens Neighbourhood Watch (SGNW) says there are weekly robberies happening in the community.
There is also a big problem with criminals extorting shop owners, says new chairman of the Summer Greens Neighbourhood Watch (SGNW), Preston Ringquest.
He said by the time robberies are reported, it is often too late for anything to be done about particular incidents but WhatsApp groups help residents communicate with neighbourhood watch members.
“The groups were created by concerned residents as a platform to communicate issues, will speed up reporting time for everyone to react. The groups work closely with NHW in reporting issues which otherwise may have been conveyed to the NHW a little bit too late to react to,” he said.
With regards to the extortion attempts, Mr Preston said there was a Milnerton SAPS intervention that was held in the community on Monday March 25.
“We had received information that the extortionists had set that date to come and collect money from shop owners. But these criminals were clever enough to walk through when they saw the Vehicle Control Point (VCP) checks into/out of the community. On that Monday evening after the VCP, The Hut shop was robbed. We suspect that could possibly be a retaliation to the VCP held earlier in the day,” he said.
Mr Ringquest said there was another shop robbery on Good Friday by two armed men using a white taxi at 10.30am.
According to Milnerton SAPS, four people were arrested during the operation on Monday in connection with the extortion attempts in Summer Greens.
A statement from Milnerton SAPS said: “Team work paid dividends to today (Monday March 25). To Milnerton members, Summer Greens Neighbourhood Watch leadership, business people of Summer Greens and Law Enforcement officials – thank you so much for working together for a common purpose. We can now confirm that four extortionists are behind bars.”
Some shop owners that Tabletalk approached refused to comment stating that they don’t want to be targets for other criminals.
Resident Thandeka Mbiliso, said that she was happy that lately she was seeing a lot more community involvement.
“I have seen the enthusiasm from people in the community and people want this place to be better. However, we still have a long way to go. The overcrowding adds to this because now we don’t even know our neighbours anymore. People walk at all hours of the day and night and can’t tell if they are one of these suspects or one of the many people living (and squatting) here. I am glad to hear that arrests are being made. Criminals need to learn that we will take our community back,” she said.
