The Plumstead Neighbourhood Watch is on a recruitment drive because it is down to 61 active patrollers after seeing a 30% drop in numbers, according to the watch’s chairman, Gary Klugman.
Mr Klugman was speaking at the watch’s annual general meeting, at the Plumstead Bowling Club, on Thursday June 9.
He attributes the drop in the number of patrollers to the impact of Covid and the rising price of petrol.
The watch’s operational manager, Justin de Vos, said they had responded to 324 call-outs over the past year. Car accidents made up 46% of call-outs followed by medical emergencies (18%) and trauma cases, such as stabbings (13%).
According to crime stats for the area, for April 2021 to April 2022, presented by Diep River sector commander Sergeant Zak Marais, malicious damage to property is up 6%; commercial crime is up 74%; property-related crime is down 26%; aggravated robberies are down 28% while contact crime is up less than 1% and arrests for drug use, sexual acts, alcohol use and firearms is up 22%.
Mr Klugman said that thanks to sponsorship from one of their members, the watch had given monthly food vouchers to struggling households as part of their community outreach.
Email info@plumsteadwatch.co.za for more information about the watch.
