Crime is rife in Pretoria North policing precincts, as revealed in the 2023/2024 second quarter crime statistics released by Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele on Friday, November 17.
Akasia police station has recorded a 6.2% increase in contact crime figures for this period, with 669 cases compared to the 630 during the same period last year.
Contact crimes include murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, common assault, common robbery, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Akasia recently came under the spotlight as serious crimes such as car tyre spiking on the R80, rape, assault, ATM bombing, business and armed robbery, as well as kidnapping plagued the area.
Among the four police stations in Pretoria North, Akasia leads the pack with the most crime and remains in the country’s 30 most troubled stations.
The precinct covers Akasia, Rosslyn, Wonderpark, Chantelle, Amandasig, Soshanguve extensions, The Orchards, Karen Park, Theresa Park, Rama City, Rosslyn Gardens and Nkwe Estate.
Akasia is ranked 10th nationally and eighth in the province for cash-in-transit crimes.
Recently, a group of 15 men bombed two ATMs and the Engen Total filling station convenience shop on the corner of R566 and Ernest Operheimer streets.
According to police spokesperson, Johan Van Dyk, after bombing the ATMs, three suspects entered the shop and pointed a gun at the cashier.
“They instructed the cashier to lie on the floor. Two cleaned out the cigarettes on the shelf, while one suspect cleaned out the cash register.”
Van Dyk said police on patrol nearby heard the loud bang and responded quickly.
“When they arrived at the scene, the suspects were trying to flee.”
He said when they noticed the police, they shot at them and police returned fire and a chase ensued.
“The suspects jumped a fence into Nissan plant.”
He police found a bag full of cigarettes, shoes, and a firearm while the suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The Akasia precinct comprises student residences, shopping centres, sports facilities, estates, restaurants and bars.
The station recorded a 64.5% increase in sexual offences at 51 cases, compared to 30 in the same period last year as well as 20 more rape cases.
On Friday, October 27, four cases of rape, multiple of robbery and one of assault were opened after four men robbed, raped and assaulted minibus taxi passengers on the N4 near the R556 off-ramp in Rosslyn.
The taxi was forced to stop after hitting a rock on the roadway.
Van Dyk said the victims reported that they were on their way to Mamelodi for an event when the driver saw a stone in the road and swerved to avoid it in vain.
“The driver continued driving until he smelt oil and stopped the vehicle to check the damage and seven passengers in the vehicle got out to assist him.”
He said four men then pounced on them.
“The suspects dragged the women to the bush, raped them and forced men to rape the women as well. The suspects then left on foot.”
The R556 has been a tyre-spiking hotspot for years.
Motorists are urged to be vigilant and avoid the road at night.
Property-related crime in the precinct has increased by 7.8% while burglaries at non-residential premises soared to 22 recorded between July 1 and September 30, six more than the same period last year.
A 10.2 % increase in burglaries at residential premises to 141 was recorded this year.
Theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased by 26.5% to 62 cases from 49 last year.
The station recorded 11 kidnapping cases, the highest in four years.
Sinoville policing precinct recorded a 19.7% increase in contact crimes.
The station services Sinoville, Montana, Kolonade and parts of Wonderboom.
Car hijacking cases in the area decreased by three from the six recorded in the same period last year.
The station is ranked seventh in South Africa and sixth provincially for vehicle and motorcycle theft after recording 126 cases, an increase of 10.1% from last year.
Recently, Sinoville police and Proshield Security company were involved in a high speed chase of a Toyota Quantum suspected to have been involved in a crime.
When it came to a stop, two BMW motorcycles earlier reported stolen were found inside.
According to Proshield, the chase came after a patrol unit along Sefako Makgatho Drive spotted a car matching the description of a vehicle used in a theft.
The Quantum came to a standstill after driving over a bush sleeper’s legs, and the suspects jumped out and fled.
Community reported serious crimes, including shoplifting, commercial crimes and other theft decreased to 17 in the area.
The station recorded 10 fewer shoplifting cases as well as a 9% decrease in commercial crime and 9.4% decrease in other serious crimes but kidnapping is on the rise.
Nine cases were reported from six last quarter.
Sinoville police are looking for domestic worker Patience Murata (40) who disappeared in June following a robbery at her employer’s home in Haakdoringlaagte.
Sergeant Gomolemo Modibane said three unknown men broke into the house, tied the homeowner and Murata up then loaded stolen property into a truck.
Modibane said the homeowner reported that when they realised the robbers were gone, the two hostages helped untie each other.
“Since Murata has never been seen again,” he said.
She had last been seen wearing grey leggings with silver side trim, a dark blue striped fleece zip-up jersey and blue work overalls.
Pretoria North police recorded a 14.3% increase in contact crimes in its coverage area which includes Pretoria North, Flaurina, Dorandia, Wolmer, Wonderboom, Onderstepoort and surrounds.
Car hijackings rose by seven more cases than the same period last year.
While residential robberies have risen, local councillors and police have promised to work with security companies to intensify patrols to counter them.
The station recorded eight more burglaries at residential premises this year compared to the same period last year.
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