Crime dips at Sunrise-on-Sea

THERE has been a drastic decrease in crime in Sunriseon-Sea, thanks to an effective community policing forum (CPF) in the area, chairman Johan Oelofse says.

The seaside village on the east coast of East London falls under Gonubie Police Station.

Oelofse said crime had dropped after the community and SAPS strengthened their relationship and intensified their operations.

“There used to be a high number of crimes, such as stolen vehicles and house break-ins, but since we intensified our operation we managed to monitor such incidents,” Oelefse said.

CPF member Patt

Moss said: “A few months ago we had an incident where a nearby farm was being invaded by land-grabbers.

“While this was happening we managed to inform our CPF sector commander, who immediately responded and that avoided a possible bloodbath,” Moss said.

“The community are really our eyes and ears on the ground and with the help from members we have managed to prevent a number of criminal activities and have managed to apprehend some of the offenders,” CPF sector commander for the area, Sergeant Gerrie Dreyer from Gonubie Police Station said.

The Gonubie station commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Tolisile Mdyogolo, said active CPF work was one of the main reasons behind the drop in crimes reported to his station. “We have over 400 farms in this area and we have managed to bring down the number of stock theft incidents,” Mdyogolo said.

According to 2014-15 police crime statistics released this week, there was a drastic decrease in reported crime in the area from the previous year, including a 100% decrease in motor vehicle and motorcycle theft; a 70% decrease in attempted murder incidents and 36% decrease in robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The chairman of the Gonubie CPF, Mncekeleli Molose, said they owed their success to regular meetings where advice, knowledge and solutions were shared among members.

— arethal@dispatch.co.za