A spike in crime has prompted a group of Nerissa Estate residents to launch a neighbourhood watch on Saturday.
The area runs from Wetton Road to Lansdowne Road and Rouxton Road to Addison Road while it houses between 6000 to 7000 people.
Hanif Loonat, the group’s coordinator and a Nerissa Estate resident, says: “The people in this area cannot even go into their own yards because there are guys jumping over the fences and stealing their things.
“Last week an elderly lady told me how she had to stand by watching a guy stealing clothes from her washing line and she could do nothing about it because she was too scared that he would hurt her.
“The guys here are stealing peoples bins, aerials, clothes and just anything they can get their hands on. If you leave old, dirty underpants outside then they will take that also.”
The anti-crime activist says 186 people attended the launch of the new neighbourhood watch at the Church Street Park.
“Some of the people stayed home due to Covid-19 fears or they had something else on but they all sent their apologies and their support for the watch.
“We have an interim committee that will now follow the steps to get the watch registered but going forward I want the younger people from the area to play an active role in the watch because this area has quite a few elderly people that need their protection.”
He says another watch is needed as the Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch currently covers the entire Lansdowne region.
“One neighbourhood watch cannot look after all the people in this area, we need at least three so hopefully this new one can help keep the residents safe.”