By Bongekile Gumede
Residents of Morningside have raised alarms on the increasing crime rate along Florida Road following a number of outcries from people whose vehicles were remote-jammed and broken into while others have had their cellphones snatched and personal items pick-pocketed.
Just after 8pm on Tuesday, 28 June, Emer-G-Med paramedics responded to the scene of a shooting incident on Florida Road. According to Kyle Van Reenan, Emer-G-Med Spokesperson, a male approximately thirty years of age sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and was treated and stabilised on scene before being taken to a nearby hospital for further care.
“It is believed that the man attempted to rob a member of the public of his cellphone at knifepoint, leading to the shooting. However, the South African Police Services were in attendance and will be handling the investigation accordingly,” said Van Reenan.
Dawn Martina, a victim whose cellphone was stolen around 5pm outside a banking facility on Wednesday, 22 June, said that Florida Road is supposed to be a tourist hub but has now become a criminal hub instead. She said her incident followed two others on Tuesday, 21 June, when two other phones were stolen on the same street.
“It’s so sad that Florida Road has gotten so bad – the drugs, remote-jamming and cellphone theft is out of control. I think it would be a great idea for the Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) management, Metro Police and SAPS to be more present for such incidents and not just for parking tickets,” said Martina.
Another Florida Road patron, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they do not enjoy walking on the road anymore as they have to be extra cautious when doing so – whether it’s during the day, evening or night – as safety is not guaranteed.
The Florida Road UIP was contacted for comment, however, they declined to comment.
Ward 27 Democratic Alliance Councillor, Ernest Smith, said he was aware of the escalating crime on Florida Road and would like to warn residents, patrons and businesses to be cautious and vigilant at all times.
“There have been a few incidents that I am aware of. I would encourage residents to walk in groups and not alone as they are an easy target when walking alone, especially late at night. I will also encourage them to ensure that their cars are locked properly and not presumed to be locked as they can become victims of remote-jamming. Always double check,” said Cllr Smith.
Superintendent Boysie Zungu, Spokesperson for Metro Police, also confirmed that he was aware of the increase in criminal activity. “We received such complaints and most of the incidents happen on weekends. We have increased our visibility in terms of foot patrols and vehicle patrols. More members have been deployed and patrols will be happening 24/7.
“We urge the community to work with us by ensuring that they report any suspicious activity in the vicinity. They can call our contact centre on 031-361-0000 and members on the ground will be notified. Motorists should also ensure that they lock their cars and avoid displaying valuable items which may attract criminals. When locking their cars they should double and triple check that their cars are locked properly before leaving them unattended,” said Spt Zungu.
