Robbery, carjacking trends concern Central police

Cape Town Central police’s concerns about an increase in carjacking, as well as robberies, especially at the city centre’s transport hubs and on the mountain, were top of the agenda at the first community police forum (CPF)  meeting for 2025, held at the service station in Buitekant Street yesterday, Thursday March 6. 

At the meeting, police gave an overview of crime in the last three months, due to the last meeting being held in November. 

Crime intelligence officer Captain Armand Brinks reported that over the last three months, they have seen an increase of either common robbery or aggravated robbery - in February, trends showed an increase in aggravated robbery. 

He said police were having constant issues at traffic lights in the city centre, where criminals grab victims’ cellphones through open windows of vehicles; chains are snatched, and victims of aggravated robbery are threatened mostly with knives. 

He said while they have made a number of arrests where robbery is concerned, there were still many incidents taking place. 

Theft out of motor vehicle was also a constant problem, said Captain Brink, with the most reported incidents taking place in the city centre, parts of Gardens, Vredehoek, and also on Signal Hill. 

A spike in robberies on Table Mountain and Signal Hill were also a matter of concern at the meeting. SANParks representative Lamla Gaqa said they were aware of the crime spike, and were conducting several operations in conjunction with security stakeholders. She urged the community to liaise with SANParks and share any information that can lead to a safer mountain. 

He also said there was an increase in carjacking, mostly involving e-hailing taxis, where suspects ask for drivers to drop them off in quiet parts of the city during the night. The suspects then force the driver out of the vehicle before taking off. 

Cape Town Central police chief Colonel Natasha Thomas, who also attended the meeting, said while they were making lots making good arrests, the police were under pressure because of the lack of resources. She added that the city was also hosting many events that required the police’s attention the police’s attention. “Please bear with us. We’re trying our best.”

The CPF meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Akker Hall at Cape Town Central SAPS station, Buitekant Street, at 8am. The next meeting will be on April 3.