COMMUNITY CRIME IN OATLANDS NORTH

In Oatlands North

*1 found crime to be quite worrying of the 6 that were surveyed. 4 thought that it was a little worrying and 1 said that there was nothing to worry about.

*There are differing opinions - some say that crime has stayed the same while other feel it has increased since they have lived in the area.

*All but two seem to think that there need to be more police patrols in the area.

*3 said that they didn't know if there was a neighbourhood watch and 3 said that there was not a neighbourhood watch. Thus, none of them are involved in a neighbourhood watch group.

*2 felt perfectly safe in their neighbourhoods, 1 said not very safe and 3 expressed that they felt somewhat safe.

*2 said that they had never been a victim of crime while living in this neighbourhood. The remaining 4 felt that they had been victims and crimes included attempted robbery, motor car break ins, stolen good from the yard and one reported 4 house breaking's in the 18 years he had lived in the neighbourhood. Another reported that they experience crimes at least once a year.

*4 felt the crime prevalent in the neighbourhood was non-violent/white collar crime and two felt that it was violent crime and housebreaking's.

*All the people who filled in a survey claimed that they had attempted to protect themselves. They report locks on entry ways and high walls to be the most commonly used. Dog and alarm systems follow and 1 has a gun in his/her possession.

*4 felt somewhat safe in the neighbourhood at night, 1 felt perfectly safe and somebody else (the one who has electric fencing and a gun) felt that they did not feel safe.

*Again, poverty, lack of security and opportunity seem to be the main cause of crime with inaffective police servicing following this.

*The feel that juveniles commit most of the crime is apparent, although 2 felt that it was both juveniles and adults.

*Ideas of walled in neighbourhoods and infrastructural improvements stand out and the main sources of crime are said to stem from poverty, opportunist wonderersm theft, digging in black garbage bags and robery.

*All felt that there should be more police patrolling to decrease crime and that there should be a lot more visible patrols.

*The informants felt that crime prevention campaigns should include breakins, house hold crimes, gang activities, rapes, murders and assaults.