Parkscape is seeking public support for a security guard hut - similar to this one set up at Cecilia Forest in May last year - at the lower Tokai Forest parking areas. Photograph: Supplied
Environmental non-profit organisation Parkscape is pushing to have a sponsored security guard hut returned to the lower Tokai Forest area, following what it says has been an increase in crime after the hut was moved to another site.
“Since the Fidelity ADT guard and hut were moved to another site at the end of January, we've seen a steady uptick in vehicle break-ins and vehicle theft from all the parking areas around lower Tokai.
“We would very much like to get the guard and hut back to Tokai Forest, but it's dependent on finding the necessary funding. We're keen to know if you, as a regular or sometime user of the forest and fynbos, would be willing to support a funding initiative that sees the return of the guard and hut,” the organisation said on its Facebook page.
Kirstenhof visible policing commander Captain Loyiso Shumane, however, disputed that crime in the area had increased. He said there was always crime in the forest car parks, even with car guards patrolling, as people left valuables in their vehicles.
He said there had been some isolated thefts out of vehicles in lower Tokai since March.
Some 82% of the 35 people who voted in an online poll on Parkscape’s Facebook page showed support for funding a guard and hut at Tokai Forest.
Parkscape founder Nicky Schmidt said they had approached a security company for support in October last year following several incidents of vehicle break-ins and a vehicle theft.
“Fidelity ADT kindly proposed a guard and hut solution at their own cost, as ‘community give-back’ over the holiday season. At the end of the holiday season, the guard and hut were removed per our understanding.
“It soon became apparent that without the guard and hut, crime picked up again around lower Tokai – this includes Orpen Road, Dennendal West Avenue, Maryland Avenue and Almora Circle – and the Tokai Riding Arena. We have seen eight incidents of vehicle break-ins and vehicle theft and two thefts from the riding arena since January when the guard and hut left Tokai Forest.”
Ms Schmidt said not all incidents were reported to Parkscape, the Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch or the police.
Nic Ansell, Fidelity ADT’s branch manager for the southern suburbs, said it could cost about R19 000 a month to deploy a guard from 6am to 6pm from Wednesday to Sunday