Forest dwellers cause concern

A resident of the Dormehlsdrift neighbourhood has aired his concerns about an increasing number of homeless people moving into the nearby forest along the Camphersdrift River.

- Alida de Beer

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the men, sleeping under makeshift shelters among the bushes, move out into the streets each day. “They operate in the CBD during the day. I've seen some of them open a manhole on the pavement between the post office and the York Park Building in St John's Street, filling up wheely bins with water that they take around the corner so they can wash cars in the nearby parking areas. We have a strong suspicion some of them are involved in the break-ins we've been experiencing at night.”

George Herald has seen footage of break-ins in cars and a person negotiating the boundary wall of a residential property during the night. The most recent incident was on Monday night.