Call for crime support
Extension 10 residents are complaining about the high crime rate in their area and are saying that the municipality and police have got an important role to play in remedying the situation.
Speaking to Grocott’s Mail last Saturday, a resident described how people broke in to his house while he was in an upstairs room.
“I was watching television in my bedroom when they broke in to my house. They came in through a win- dow and took my DVD player. I always leave the key in the door lock. That made it easy for them as they opened the door with the key and left. I discovered that they have broken in very late,” said the man, who wanted to remain anonymous.
Residents complained that it was not easy to hear or know what is happening downstairs when upstairs. They said that the RDP houses with an upstairs are at a disadvantage when it comes to security.
Another resident of the area, Linda Ntlanjeni, said that there are “thugs” who live in a house in her neighbourhood. She said that people knew that someone living in that house is breaking into homes nearby.
“There is nothing to hide because we all know who is causing the problem in this area. I once went to Port Elizabeth and that person broke in to my house and took all my groceries. I reported the matter to the police and he was arrested. Not too long after that he came out of prison and threatened me. He said he was coming for me,” said Ntlanjeni.
The residents said the reason crime was escalating in Grahamstown was down to drug abuse. They said things would be better if the municipality put electric lights in the streets. They also complained of empty houses in Extention 10. They said thugs are using the houses as bases from which to commit crime. The matter was reported to the municipality but, according to the residents, nothing was done.