Northern Farm no longer safe to ride on your own

[Timbows]

Hi Simon

Is the situation going to improve - or get worse?

 

[Dibles]

Hi Simon
Is the situation going to improve - or get worse?

 

This email below was sent by Simon yesterday. As you can see he is trying to improve the situation.

 

 

"Dear Mandy,

<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><?: PREFIX = O />

 

I refer to my previous e mail in December regarding an increase in crime in the area surrounding the farm and the farm itself.

Over the December period, there were two incidents of bike jackings outside of the farm, I can not comment about these as I have no specific information.

A vehicle was stolen from the car park in December and three intruders were chased off of the farm two weekends ago, one of whom was subsequently arrested.

This Sunday someone was unfortunately bike jacked while riding on the outer perimiter road next to the mielie fields and on the way to the cemetry.

 

The rumours that are flying around are obviously blowing the incident out of proportion, there was only one actual incident, which I agree is one too many.

 

I will be meeting with farm management to discuss ways in which we can mitigate against these risks in the future and will send out a further e mail within the next few days. Rest assured we shall take all reasonable steps to protect the farm users against these criminal elements.

 

In the meantime, may I suggest that should you have any queries in this regard you address them to either myself or another member of the NFRUG committee.

 

Regards

 

Simon Nash

Northern Farm MTB Representative

simon at northernfarm dot co dot za

"

[northernfarm]

I cant predict the future, but I can tell you we are taking steps to mitigate future risks.

The road next to the outer perimiter is quite long, expect to see three,  two man patrols this weekend on that road and we are negotiating an armed patrol to patrol as well, we are working with the local community, and hope these steps will work. 

[Danger Dassie]

NF, many thanks for your communication on this and the proactive steps been taken.

 

Hopefully these incidents were just the result of a spike in opportunistic act over the Dec holiday!

 

See you on Sat.

[scotty]

NF' date=' many thanks for your communication on this and the proactive steps been taken.
Hopefully these incidents were just the result of a spike in opportunistic act over the Dec holiday!
See you on Sat.[/quote']

 Nice to see the effort put in by NF management to address the issue, i dont ride there often as its a bit far to travel.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Patrolling the farm is a great start - it is just very sad that the access routes to N Farm and roads outside the farm along the back perimeter are also useless if you wanted  to go on a longer ride to or from the farm, like the one past heron Bridge and the Hills and dales Road

[Dibles]

Thanks northernfarm for all your effort.

 

Received this last night:

 

Dear Mandy,

<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Further to my previous e mails on the crime problems we have experienced recently.

We have put a car guard on patrol in the car park and have arranged with farm management to clear up the grass and trees between the farm and the outside road.

The problems have taken place on the outer perimeter road which runs parallel to the hills and dales road.

We have set up three teams of two from the Diepsloot development project(older boys) and will provide them with pepper spray and radios. They will patrol this road, one team starting at the far end of the road, one in the middle and one at the beginning.The patrols will start at 6.30 a.m on Saturdays and Sundays.

We are also negotiating with two companies to provide armed patrols along this section, and others and will have finalised something by this weekend.

 

We advise people to ride in groups and not on their own. We also advise against riding on the roads outside of the farm. We are confident that these steps will encourage the criminal element to take their activities elsewhere.

 

Regards

 

Simon Nash

Northern Farm MTB Representative

[JustAgar]

A good effort by Simon and team in the quick and visible measures taken to manage this.

 

Question: does anyone know specifically where the hijacking incident occurred at/near Heronbridge..?

Was it near the concrete weir bridge spanning the river just upstream of the road to Northern farm..? Or did it occur on the road itself.