Crime up in Parow

Parow CPF boss Roger Cannon has noticed a hike in crime in Parow and Plattekloof.

Burglaries and thefts from cars have risen in Parow North, Parow Lower and Plattekloof over the past three weeks, says Parow Community Police Forum (CPF) boss Roger Cannon, and it has him worried.

He says while police have been focusing patrols on the Parow CBD in recent months, criminals have targeted residential areas.

“I heard about three car break-ins in the area last week,” said Mr Cannon.

“However, if nothing is taken, from their vehicles, residents are not reporting these cases to police, which is a problem as it affects the official police statistics at the end of the day.”

He urged residents to report all crimes so that police can beef up their visible patrolling in the area.

Homelessness, he added, remained a major issue in the community.

“On Saturday May 19, near McIntyre Road, Parow, City law enforcement, the Parow CPF and the Parow North Lower Neighbourhood Watch conducted an operation where the homeless were cleared out. Two City of Cape Town trucks had be used to clear all the rubbish that they had accumulated. He said by Sunday May 20, the people had returned.

He said law enforcement needed to do regular patrols and the Department of Social Development (DSD) should be helping to reintegrate the homeless into society.

“Many of the homeless loitering in Parow come from other provinces and do not have family in Cape Town, so that is why they always come back to Parow. It’s a complex issue that needs a multi-pronged approach,” he said.

Parow resident Wimpie Blom has lived in the area for 24 years.

He said burglaries and thefts from cars were among the most common crimes in the neighbourhood.

“Cars that are parked outside at night are the most at risk. However, I am lucky to have a big yard in which to park my car. A couple of years ago, thieves tried to break into my house, but I now have dogs which act as a deterrent.”

Three years ago, his bakkie was stolen while parked along Voortrekker Road, but it was later recovered.

“I feel quite safe in my home because of the precautions I have taken. However, residents, who don’t have alarms and dogs to protect them should try to put these measures in place to feel safer in this neighbourhood,” he said.

Parow police station commander Colonel Teboho Jacobs said Mr Cannon had shared his concerns with him.

“However, my main issue is that residents are not reporting these issues to police, which means we have no record of it. Since speaking to Mr Cannon, I have filtered the information to our members, and we plan to increase patrols in that area.

“If, we as the police, are not aware of these types of crime being committed, how do we know we need to patrol there and that those are problem areas?”

Leon van Edeen, chairman of the Parow North Lower Neighbourhood Watch (PNLNHW), was unable to comment by the time this edition went to print.

Email chairman@pnnhw.co.za or call Parow police at 021 929 7037.