The newly elected committee of the Rugby West Neighbourhood Watch is appealing for support.
The watch held a “meet your neighbour” social gathering, with a braai, music and jumping castle, at the Lincluden Street Park, last Saturday, but it drew only about 30 people.
Watch spokesman Clive Paulsen conceded the turnout was “not so great”, but he said the event had been arranged within the space of the week and more events were planned.
Proceeds from the event would go towards much-need gear for the watch’s patrollers, he said.
“We all want our Rugby area to be a safe place where we can rear our families and continue to enjoy the pensionable years,” said Mr Paulsen.
He encouraged residents to join the watch, saying it had helped to reduce petty theft in the area but it lacked resources and the number of patrollers had thinned during winter.
The watch had worked hard to forge a relationship with the Milnerton police station and wanted to work with law-enforcement agencies to rid the area of brothels, drug dealers, and drug dens, he said.
“Various blocks of flats that have become drug infested and other drug dealers are on our radar. We are currently shutting down a so-called spaza shop that we are aware will be used as an undercover for yet another drug den.”
The watch also ran clean-ups and fed the needy in the area, he said.
For more information about the watch, call 072 593 1687.
Milnerton police did not respond to emails by deadline.
