Is it time to increase your security Newcastle?

How safe are Newcastillians from the criminal element? This comes after a spat of burglaries in town, leaving several residents at their wits end.

On Wednesday evening, May 9, a Barry Hertzog Park family went out to a church meeting. Returning home, they found two suspicious individuals sitting outside their yard. and another two individuals sitting outside a neighbour’s home. Concerned about their and their neighbour’s safety, they contacted Newcastle Police.

The first phone call was made shortly after 8pm. Despite the SAPS assuring the residents that they would be sending someone out, by 9pm, there was no police presence. The suspects becoming more verbal and arrogant after being approached by the residents.

“When I phoned the police back, the officer denied that I phone. Then she claimed I was being rude when I asked if they were still sending someone.”

The SAPS only arrived at 10pm. By which stage the suspects had left, as the residents refused to stop watching them. One of the attending officers said they were operating with only one vehicle and that he had received the information about the suspects minutes before attending.

This leaves two questions which demand to be answered. Why do the SAPS only have one vehicle to operate during nights? Also, why do police respond two hours after a call?

But the family are not the only people with issues with crime in Barry Hertzog Park. Teresa Nel claims her suburb seems to be a hot-spot for burglars. “It has become so bad that my husband and other residents have started to patrol the area.”

Teresa’s household was targeted twice. “They broke into our garage and then they attempted to get into our home, but the alarm system fortunately went off and scared them away.” However, despite the burglars being scared off, Teresa and her husband have upgraded their security system to ensure future incidents were minimised.

She claims that her household has not been the only targets of burglars in Barry Hertzog Park. “Last week, our neighbour woke up to find five men in her yard. When she screamed, they ran away.”

However, other neighbours in the Nel’s street were not as fortunate. “One of our other neighbours came home with his daughter and saw someone in his house. The guy ran away when he realised he was spotted. So, the burglaries aren’t taking place just during the night. The burglaries are happening during the day as well.”

A tuckshop in the area was also burgled and the stock was stolen. Another Barry Hertzog Park resident’s home’s burglar bars were removed, before the suspects entered the home. Once inside the house, the men even went as far as to help themselves to food in the kitchen.

Two residents in Paradise have also felt the dark grip of crime.

“Two weeks ago, I parked my car outside the garage. At about 10pm, my family and I went to sleep. When my husband went out the next morning, he saw our car had been broken into and our radio stolen,” claims one resident.

Opting to remain anonymous out of fear the burglars return, she claims she doesn’t know how the suspects gained access to her yard. “I have two big dogs who run loose. I don’t know if the men gave them anything, but we didn’t hear the dogs bark at all.”

Another Paradise resident was burgled on Sunday, April 30. “I was out of town and when I returned in the early hours of Sunday morning, I saw my dining room’s light was one. I thought it strange, as I switched everything off.”

Upon going inside her house, the resident was shocked to see her room had been ransacked after burglars removed the burglar guards. Several items were stolen, including her jewellery. “They stole choice goods.”

Another resident was targeted in Sunset View. “Fortunately, the burglars didn’t get into my home as they were disturbed.”

The Newcastle SAPS Communications Department was contacted for comment. They were asked why only one vehicle was available and where are the other police vehicles? They were also asked what is an appropriate response time when the community called for assistance. No comment was forthcoming at the time of the article being published. We welcome a response and once have one, will publish it immediately.

However, the Communications Department recently stated there is not an increase in burglaries. In fact, the department was adamant the figures were lower than last year. What are your thoughts?