Bellville and Durbanville have seen spikes in home and business burglaries and vehicle-related thefts, according to the latest national crime statistics.Â
Police Minister Bheki Cele released the statistics on Thursday September 12 in Parliament.
They track reported crime across the country from the beginning of April last year to the end of March this year.
In Bellville, residential burglaries increased from 205 reported cases last year to 215 cases , motor vehicle theft increased from 208 to 211 cases while theft out of vehicles climbed sharply from 1121 cases to 1176.
Business burglaries remain high, dropping from 624 to 623 cases.
Hennie Koekemoer, Bellville Community Police Forum chairperson, said: “The overall crime situation in Bellville as reflected by all crimes, excluding crimes detected as a result of police action, showed no significant decrease.”
He said it appeared SAPS was not winning the fight against the negative aspects of rapid development and population growth in the Bellville CBD and adjacent areas.
“With Bellville being predominantly a property-crime area, with a very significant and consistent drop in proprty-related crimes over the three preceding years, one would be veru cautious about the 3% increase in the past year.
The almost 5% increase in burglaries at non-residential premises and theft from motor vehicles are growing concerns in most Bellville areas, and there is a need for greater awareness of the negligence aspect in the theft from motor vehicles.
We are however encouraged by the 5% decrease in the much feared aggravated robberies. This is an indicative result of a very specific SAPS crime prevention drive.”
While property-related crimes remain high in Bellville, contact crime has remained stable over nine years.Â
However, Mr Koekemoer said the increase in sexual crimes was a major concern.
Rape rose from 33 to 37 cases and sexual assault rose from 20 to 24 cases.