Neighbourhood watch groups in Tygerhof have called on residents to help install security cameras at key points in the neighbourhood, following an R18.6 million drug bust there last week.
Police arrested a 40-year-old foreign man there on Wednesday March 24 and seized 52kg of tik valued at R18.2 million, 8 850 mandrax tablets worth R442 550 and dagga worth around R40 000.
“Three pistols and a revolver, as well as 285 rounds of ammunition were also found at the home,” said provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Novela Potelwa.
The man is due to appear in court this week.
On Saturday, March 27 members of the Tygerhof Neighbourhood Watch and Tygerhof Crime Watch Trust were flagging down cars in Pringle Road, holding up banners encouraging residents to sign up with a security company to patrol the area.
Gordon Munro, the neighbourhood watch chairman, said the security company had agreed to do 24-hour patrols if each household agreed to pay a R349 monthly subscription.
He added that the aim was to get a minimum of 150 household to sign up with the company. It would then install cameras at every entrance and exit in the area, at its own expense.
Mr Munro said the drug bust last week had come as a surprise and he couldn’t believe it was “happening right under their noses.” Residents should be the eyes and ears in the community, and he encouraged them to join the neighbourhood watch.
The community had seen an increase in break-ins, car thefts and thefts from vehicles in recent years. “Robberies are on the increase now,” he said.
Tygerhof Crime Watch Trust member Robyn Ilcheva also encouraged residents to sign up with the security company because, she said, police patrols were scarce.
“We have no confidence in police because they don’t attend to calls when they are supposed to. They come nearly hours after the complaint was laid.”
However, Milnerton police spokeswoman Captain Nopaya Madyibi said break-ins and car thefts in the area were down because of increased police patrols. And Tygerhof was not considered a crime hot spot, she said.
