Concerned residents have spoken out to warn Cape Town drivers about pervasive smash-and-grab incidents and hotspots that have been occurring within the Elsies River area.
Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA) recently posted on social media, warning drivers about the Norwood traffic lights, at Fransie van Zyl Road, where a group of six youths are reportedly stationed on both sides of the road, hiding behind trees, and sitting on nearby walls.
FACSA said they are targeting vehicles with open windows, with children allegedly helping by alerting the group about approaching vehicles before they reach the robots.
However, ANC branch secretary in the Elsies River area, Patrick Wence, said that the problem is far more serious, with the community having already identified several smash-and-grab hotspots in the area.
The hotspots being: the corners of 39th Avenue and Owen Rd, cnr of Franzie van Zyl and Norwood, cnr of Balvenie and 35th Street, corner of Halt Road and Voortrekker Rd, Corner of Epping Avenue and 35th Street.
“The other is during peak hour traffic, especially in Norwood. The one route is where you go to Parow, and the other to Franzie van Zyl… because there is congestion. Usually, from 4pm, people are getting out of work, and it is very frustrating,” Wence said.
FACSA spokesperson Jay Jay Idel said children would assist by rushing the vehicle, especially bakkies, or they would go stand by the vehicle, pretending to beg, while signalling to others nearby to ambush a particular car.
“These thugs are operating without impunity in the area, and we’ve been asking police to just be visible during those peak hours.
“When the perpetrators grab the phones, people usually don’t report it, or they are in shock and just drive away, because it is usually people driving through the area. What has previously happened is that we’ve had police apprehend these culprits, but there was no case, and that is the problem,” Wence said.
“Our appeal to the victims of these crimes is to immediately report it to the police station, so that if and when these people are apprehended, then there is a case. They can’t keep someone when there is no case.
“Sometimes they even find the phones on the suspects, but they can’t keep them because there is no case reported.”
Idel added that it has been a problem for years and that safety officials need to play their part.
“The community knows this hotspot. Criminals know it. But somehow, the officers tasked with prevention act like they don’t. When smash-and-grabs become routine and SAPS or metro police presence is sporadic at best, it’s not just negligence. It’s complicity through inaction.
“We don’t need more awareness campaigns. We need visibility on the ground consistently, as well as SAPS, to carry out their mandate.”
The SAPS was contacted for comment, and referred the publication to the Elsies River police station for comment. They have yet to respond.
Monique Mortlock-Malgas, from the Western Cape Department of Social Development, said that they encourage the public to report criminal actions by children to the SAPS.
“The Child Justice Act makes provision for procedures to be followed by SAPS, the NPA, and Social Development when children under 18 years of age are charged with criminal offences.
“Arrested minors can be placed into the department’s secure care facilities, where they will receive the necessary developmental and rehabilitative programmes, and convicted minors’ criminal records will be expunged when they become adults, provided that they do not re-offend.”
Wence said that other than traditional smash-and-grabs, they also attack e-hailing drivers and e-hailing bikers. “They’ve used a lady as cover, and book rides in certain areas, and then when the e-hailing drivers arrive, they would rob them of cellphones and money.”
Wence said that they are appealing to people to be vigilant, and to keep personal belongings out of sight, and keep windows and doors locked when they enter these areas.
