This has been a financially and emotionally draining year for residents living on Reservoir and Connaught roads in Milner Estate, with house break-ins averaging four to five times a month by criminals who are aided by cover of the overgrown bushes in the area.
Residents say the bush opposite Reservoir Road has not been cleared in years and that this has enabled thieves to turn the area into a hotspot for house break-ins and robbing pedestrians.
One resident whose home has been targeted twice this year has lost R55,000 in stolen wheel caps and a burgled remote control gate motor. Another resident has been burgled four times this year and has had R8,000 worth of clothes and shoes stolen from his washing line.
One home, fortified by electric fencing and barbed wire, has been broken into and had cellphones, laptops and electrical appliances stolen.
Residents have taken to chaining up electrical boxes and water meters and have welded the substation doors together to prevent thieves from stealing infrastructure and cutting cables.
One resident said: “There are people watching us and our homes all the time and when you wake up in the morning you hear there has been a new break-in.
“It’s emotionally and financially burning us out. Christmas is coming but we will be trapped in our houses, afraid to leave in case our possessions are stolen.”
A three-year tender for alien vegetation control has been awarded this financial year and the municipality has committed to addressing bush clearing on Reservoir Road this season subject to resource and time constraints.
The community welcomes this news however they are hoping measures can be put in place to ensure their safety while they are waiting for the bush clearing to commence.
On resident said: “Cable theft and vandalism is a regular occurrence here because the thieves want the area to be plunged into darkness.
“We started a community patrol recently and not only have been held at gunpoint but we have also recovered dangerous weapons from people hanging about our area. We have no support from our councillor or from SAPS and we feel abandoned.”
